Afghanistan Times
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KABUL — A group of United Nations human rights experts has issued an urgent appeal to Pakistan, demanding an immediate halt to the mass deportations of Afghan nationals. The experts warn that the ongoing expulsions pose an imminent threat to the lives and freedoms of millions — particularly women and girls — and risk violating international human rights and refugee laws.
The warning comes as Pakistan reportedly considers extending the deadline for the voluntary return of undocumented Afghans to April 10 — though the government has yet to confirm any extension. In the absence of official clarification, fears are growing among Afghans facing forced return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
“Pakistan must immediately stop deportations, arrests, intimidation, and forced relocations of Afghan nationals,” the UN experts declared in a strongly worded statement from Geneva. “Millions are at risk of being sent back to a country where their safety and fundamental rights cannot be guaranteed.”
The eleven independent experts, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, said Afghan women and girls returning to Afghanistan face gender-based violence and systemic repression under the Taliban — conditions that violate international law and the UNHCR’s non-return advisory.
They warned that deporting Afghans without due consideration of their protection needs amounts to a breach of the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they face serious threats to life or freedom.
“We are deeply alarmed by the scale and speed of these deportations, and the disregard for the grave risks people — especially women, children, and human rights defenders — will face once returned,” the experts stated.
The UN team also condemned Pakistan’s “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,” initiated in September 2023, which has already forced hundreds of thousands of Afghans to flee. According to the UN, arrests of Afghan nationals surged dramatically in the lead-up to the March 31 deadline for voluntary departures.
Afghans have been reaching out to the UN in fear, reporting harassment, detention, and the looming threat of being sent back to a regime known for its repressive policies and targeted persecution.
The experts also raised alarm over reports of similar returns from other countries, calling on the global community to urgently uphold legal and humanitarian protections for Afghans at risk.
