Amnesty flags harassment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, writes to PM
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New Delhi: Amnesty International, a leading human rights organisation, has urged the Pakistani government to protect Afghan refugees residing in the country from harassment, unlawful detention, and torture by security agencies.
In an open letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the group expressed serious concerns over the unlawful detention, harassment, and deportation of Afghan refugees, emphasizing that they remain vulnerable and are entitled to state protection.
Amnesty International demanded that Pakistani authorities take proactive measures to halt deportations and ensure that refugees are safeguarded under international human rights law. “Pakistani authorities must ensure the rights of Afghan refugees are protected, particularly protection from arbitrary detention and eviction from refugee camps and their accommodations,” the letter stated.
Citing data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Amnesty noted that around 110,000 refugees and asylum seekers face direct threats of deportation and require protection. The organisation also highlighted the heightened vulnerability of women, journalists, and human rights activists if forcibly returned to Afghanistan.
Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for over 40 years, sheltering hundreds of thousands who fled conflict and political upheaval. However, since the launch of the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” in September 2023, Islamabad has intensified efforts to repatriate undocumented and unverified Afghans, including some with legal refugee status.
According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 1,495,851 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since the deportation campaign began, nearly half—778,739—returning in 2025 alone.
Similar deportation drives are reportedly taking place in Iran. Estimates suggest that over four million Afghans have been deported or forced to return from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023, including more than 2.6 million in 2025.
With IANS inputs
