“We urge Pakistan to immediately halt mass internal relocations, deportations, arrests, evictions, intimidation, and other forms of pressure on Afghans to cross the border into Afghanistan, and to uphold the absolute and non-derogable principle of non-refoulement.”
UN experts have called on Pakistan to halt plans to forcibly remove Afghans from Islamabad and Rawalpindi or deport them to Afghanistan. While the deadline for voluntary departure was initially set for March 31, reports indicate an extension to April 10.
The experts warn that millions face forced return despite serious protection concerns, including gender-based violence and the systematic erosion of women’s rights.
“Millions of Afghans in Pakistan are at risk of being pushed back to Afghanistan without consideration for their legitimate protection concerns – including gender-based violence and the systematic dismantling of women’s and girls’ rights – in violation of international human rights and refugee law, and disregarding UNHCR’s non-return advisory,” stated a group of UN experts, including Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. Their statement was published on the United Nations Human Rights High Commission website on April 4, 2025.
Concerned about the deportations of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, Amnesty International has also condemned Pakistan’s continued expulsion of Afghan nationals, including refugees and asylum seekers.
“The Pakistan government is pushing forward with its plans to arbitrarily and forcibly expel Afghan nationals, including refugees and asylum seekers, as part of the opaque ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ which adds to the plight of at-risk Afghans. Between September 2023 and February 2025, at least 844,499 Afghan nationals have been forced to return back to Afghanistan where they are at real risk of human rights violations by the Taliban amid worsening humanitarian crisis,” Amnesty International wrote on it’s website on April 4, 2025.
According to UNHCR, Pakistan hosts 1.52 million registered Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, along with an estimated 800,000 Afghan citizenship holders and others living in the country without official recognition. These individuals come from diverse backgrounds but share a common history of fleeing Afghanistan’s turbulent political landscape.
UN experts strongly condemned mass relocations, deportations, arrests, and intimidation, stressing that Pakistan must uphold the principle of non-refoulement.
Particularly vulnerable groups include Afghan women, girls, LGBTQ+ individuals, minorities, former officials, human rights defenders, and journalists. Children, unaccompanied minors, people with disabilities, and the elderly also face heightened risks.
“We urge Pakistan to immediately halt mass internal relocations, deportations, arrests, evictions, intimidation, and other forms of pressure on Afghans to cross the border into Afghanistan, and to uphold the absolute and non-derogable principle of non-refoulement,” the experts emphasized. They expressed particular concern about the gendered and intersectional impact of these actions.
The UN also highlighted security threats and the impact of funding cuts on humanitarian aid. Experts stressed the urgent need for durable solutions, calling for international support to protect Afghans at risk.
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