Human Rights Violations: Pakistan’s Unlawful Deportation of Afghan Refugees

The recent announcement by the newly elected Government of Pakistan to expand and expedite its plans to unlawfully deport Afghan refugees has sparked global concern. Despite repeated calls to halt deportations, the Pakistani government has decided to extend the deportation drive to Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, putting the lives of over 800,000 Afghan refugees at risk. This move violates refugee and international human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, and threatens to unleash another wave of harassment and detentions after the holy month of Ramadan.

Pakistan’s ‘Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan:

Pakistan’s ‘Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan, initiated in October 2023, targets Afghan refugees living in fear of persecution following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. The plan, announced with a 30-day deadline for “undocumented” Afghan refugees to leave the country, puts 1.4 million refugees at risk of deportation. Amnesty International has documented a complete lack of transparency, due process, and accountability in the detentions and deportations of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, leading to increased harassment and hostility towards them.

Violation of Human Rights:

The decision to deport Afghan refugees is in clear violation of refugee and international human rights law. The principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the deportation of individuals to countries where they face persecution or serious human rights violations, is being disregarded. This decision not only endangers the lives of Afghan refugees but also threatens the safety of women, girls, journalists, human rights defenders, women protestors, artists, and former Afghan government and security officials.

Call for Action:

Amnesty International calls on the Pakistani authorities to immediately reverse their decisions and pass human rights-compliant laws protecting the rights of refugees in the country. Additionally, Pakistan should become a state party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees along with its Protocols to ensure the protection and safety of Afghan refugees.

The unlawful deportation of Afghan refugees by the Pakistani government is a blatant violation of human rights and international law. It puts the lives of hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees at risk and threatens to worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region. It is imperative that Pakistan reverses its decision and upholds its obligations under refugee and human rights law to protect the rights and safety of Afghan refugees.