United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, cautioned on Friday against the forced return of Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers to Afghanistan, labeling it a breach of international human rights and refugee laws. Turk emphasized the risks faced by Afghan women, children, and men being compelled to go back to Afghanistan against their wishes, putting them in serious danger.
Nearly 270,000 Afghans have been deported to Afghanistan this year, primarily from Iran and Pakistan, as per the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Last year, over 1.2 million Afghan refugees were deported from Iran and 150,000 from Pakistan, with smaller numbers from Turkey and Tajikistan, highlighting a concerning trend.
The UN human rights agency highlighted that specific groups, including women, girls, former Afghan government affiliates, media personnel, civil society members, and LGBTIQ+ individuals, are at high risk of reprisals and human rights violations. Turk stressed the importance of respecting the principle of non-refoulement, urging States to uphold their legal obligations and safeguard Afghans from harm upon return.
A report titled “No Safe Haven” by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) revealed that forcibly deported Afghan refugees faced severe human rights abuses, such as arbitrary arrest, detention, and mistreatment by Taliban authorities. Despite calls for a coordinated approach to Afghan nationals’ returns in the EU, concerns persist over some European countries resuming or considering deportations amid Afghanistan’s dire human rights situation.
Turk expressed reservations about the potential implications of proposed EU return rules, fearing they could compromise human rights protections and endanger individuals. He strongly advised against involuntary returns to Afghanistan without proper individual risk assessments, emphasizing compliance with international human rights and refugee laws to prevent harm to people.
Besides the concerning human rights conditions, Afghanistan grapples with a challenging humanitarian situation and cross-border insecurity, particularly since October 2025. The escalating hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the last quarter led to the highest civilian casualties since the Taliban’s takeover, exacerbating the already fragile situation.
