Amnesty International has called on the Pakistani government to safeguard Afghan refugees within its borders from mistreatment and illegal actions by security forces. In an open letter to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the organization expressed serious concerns about the detention, harassment, and deportation of Afghan refugees, emphasizing their vulnerability and the need for state protection. The letter urged Pakistani authorities to prevent the deportation of Afghan refugees and ensure their safety in line with international human rights standards.
Citing data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Amnesty International highlighted that approximately 110,000 refugees and asylum seekers are at risk of deportation and require safeguarding. The organization particularly emphasized the risks faced by women, journalists, and human rights activists if returned to Afghanistan against their will. Pakistan has been a host to Afghan refugees for more than four decades, providing shelter to hundreds of thousands who fled conflict and political instability.
Since the initiation of the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” in September 2023, Pakistan has intensified efforts to repatriate undocumented and unverified Afghans, including those with legal refugee status. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 1.4 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since the deportation campaign began, with a significant number returning in 2025 alone. Similar deportation initiatives are also underway in countries like Iran, with estimates indicating that millions of Afghans have been deported or compelled to return from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023.
