KABUL— The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called on Pakistan to halt the forced return of Afghan refugees holding legal status, warning that ongoing deportations risk violating international law and endangering vulnerable groups, especially women and children.
In a recent statement, UNHCR expressed deep concern over Pakistan’s decision to include registered Afghan refugees—those holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards—in its ongoing ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.’
The agency said it has received multiple reports in recent days of arrests and detentions of PoR cardholders across the country.
“Those holding PoR cards have been recognized as refugees for decades,” the UN agency said. “Their forced return would be contrary to Pakistan’s long-standing humanitarian approach and constitute a violation of the principle of non-refoulement.”
The principle of non-refoulement, enshrined in international law, prohibits the return of refugees to countries where they may face threats to their life or freedom.
Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for more than 40 years, sheltering millions who fled decades of conflict and upheaval in Afghanistan. However, since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, and amid growing domestic and political pressure, Islamabad has increasingly cracked down on undocumented migrants, including those with legal refugee status.
Earlier this year, Pakistan deported hundreds of thousands of Afghans, and the government has signaled it plans to accelerate expulsions in the coming months. According to UNHCR, over 2.1 million Afghans have returned or been forced to return in 2025 alone, including 352,000 from Pakistan, a number expected to rise further.
UNHCR welcomed Pakistan’s recent decision to grant a one-month grace period to registered Afghans but warned this is not enough to ensure protections are upheld.
The agency voiced particular alarm over the forced return of women and girls, whose rights are severely curtailed under Taliban rule, as well as individuals with medical needs, students pursuing higher education, and those in mixed marriages with Pakistani nationals.
“UNHCR strongly urges the Government of Pakistan to exempt Afghans with continued international protection needs from involuntary return,” the statement said, adding that the agency stands ready to support Pakistan in establishing appropriate mechanisms for legal stay.
Inside Afghanistan, the return of such large numbers of people is putting immense pressure on already stretched services—from shelter and food to healthcare and jobs. With over 23 million Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance, aid agencies warn that hasty and large-scale deportations risk further destabilizing not only Afghanistan but the wider region.
Many returnees arrive in Afghanistan destitute, without homes or support networks, only to face escalating human rights abuses, economic collapse, and limited aid access, particularly for women and minority groups.
Despite repeated calls from international agencies and rights groups, the deportations have continued. Afghan refugees in Pakistan say they live in constant fear of arrest, eviction, and forced return, even those who have lived in the country for decades.
UNHCR called on Pakistan to reaffirm its tradition of humanitarian solidarity, and to ensure that any returns to Afghanistan are conducted voluntarily, safely, and with dignity.
