Pakistan Increases Deportation Of Afghans, Says Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch says Pakistan has sharply increased deportations of Afghan refugees, warning of abuses including arbitrary arrests and forced returns.
Human Rights Watch says Pakistan has sharply increased deportations of Afghan refugees, warning of abuses including arbitrary arrests and forced returns.
In a new report, Human Rights Watch said the crackdown intensified following border tensions with the Taliban. Fereshta Abbasi urged Pakistan to halt forced returns and act against abusive police behaviour.
The report says thousands of vulnerable Afghans, including children, face barriers to healthcare, education and essential services.
Abbasi said Pakistani authorities are creating fear among Afghan refugees, many of whom face harsh and degrading treatment by police.
The organisation said police have arrested Afghans even when they hold valid visas and noted that Pakistan has halted extensions of PoR cards and other residency documents since 2023.
According to the report, more than 146,000 Afghans have been deported from Pakistan in 2026 alone.
Based on interviews with Afghan migrants, the report says Pakistani police detain Afghans during daily activities such as shopping, attending school or seeking work, often confiscating phones and cash.
It also alleges that police demand bribes for release, which many cannot afford.
Human Rights Watch said many deportees are journalists, activists and human rights defenders who could face serious risks if returned to Afghanistan.
Citing Reporters Without Borders, the report said at least nine Afghan journalists, including some with valid visas, have been forcibly returned since the start of 2026.
The organisation warned that forced deportations may violate Pakistan’s obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture and the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they face serious harm.
It called for an immediate halt to deportations and urged other countries to raise concerns with Pakistan and condemn ongoing human rights violations by the Taliban.
