Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Urge Halt to Forced Deportations
A group of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan, in collaboration with civil society organizations, has issued an open letter to international bodies calling for an immediate end to forced deportations to Afghanistan. This appeal comes amid rising political tensions between the Taliban administration and the Pakistani government, which have led to increased pressure on Afghan migrants residing in Pakistan.
The letter has been sent to organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the European Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The signatories have urged these entities to take urgent and effective action to stop the deportations from Pakistan.
Referring to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the refugees have called on the Pakistani government to adhere to the principle of non-refoulement. They argue that forcibly returning asylum seekers to Afghanistan under the current conditions would expose them to serious risks to their life and security.
The authors of the letter warned against using the vulnerable status of refugees as a tool for political leverage against the Taliban administration. They also appealed to the international community to expedite the processing of resettlement applications and facilitate the safe transfer of eligible refugees to secure countries.
According to multiple reports, the Taliban administration has imposed widespread restrictions on human rights, creating an inhospitable environment for voluntary return. In such circumstances, the forced repatriation of refugees could be considered a clear violation of human rights principles and international obligations.
