UN agencies have sounded the alarm over a sharp increase in the number of Afghans returning to their homeland as Pakistan launches a crackdown on undocumented or unregistered foreigners. Expressing deep concern, they call on Pakistan to reconsider its policy to avoid a potential “human rights catastrophe.”
Earlier this month, Pakistan announced its intention to arrest and deport individuals without proper documentation or registration after October 31. In response, two provinces neighboring Afghanistan have established deportation centers. While the government claims the campaign does not target any specific nationality, it predominantly affects Afghans, who constitute a significant portion of the foreign population in Pakistan.
UN agencies revealed on Friday that there are over 2 million undocumented Afghans in Pakistan, with at least 600,000 having fled following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. The situation in Afghanistan has exacerbated, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis, particularly impacting women and girls, who face severe restrictions on education, public spaces, and employment due to Taliban policies. Additionally, media, activists, and civil society organizations are subject to constraints.
The International Organization for Migration and the UN refugee agency disclosed that tens of thousands of Afghans left Pakistan between October 3-15, with many citing the fear of arrest as their primary reason for departure. Expressing their concerns, the agencies emphasized the urgent need for Pakistan to halt the forcible return of Afghan nationals, warning of potential human rights violations upon their return to Afghanistan, including arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and other inhumane treatment.
Pakistan contends that it will treat those arrested with dignity and insists that the deportations will be carried out in a “phased and orderly” manner. However, the UN agencies remain wary of the risks faced by those deported to Afghanistan, given the current conditions and instability in the country, especially under Taliban rule.
This deportation campaign occurs against the backdrop of strained relations between Pakistan and its neighbor, Afghanistan. Pakistan accuses the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan of harboring militants who cross the shared 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) border and carry out attacks on Pakistani security forces. The Taliban, however, deny these allegations, further complicating the regional dynamics.
The situation remains a matter of international concern, with the UN agencies actively advocating for the protection of the rights and safety of Afghan nationals amid this evolving crisis.
Sources By Agencies
