UN human rights experts have issued a firm appeal to Pakistan, urging the nation to halt its initiatives aimed at displacing Afghan refugees. As voiced by the experts on Friday, the emphasis was on cessation of actions that lead to the internal relocation or deportation of Afghans settled in prominent Pakistani cities such as Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The UN experts highlighted the critical importance of Pakistan’s position as a neighbor and vocalized their concerns regarding the potential breaches of international laws, such as the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits forcing refugees or asylum seekers to return to conditions of danger.
The issue arises as part of Pakistan’s government strategy articulated in September 2023, with an announcement detailing plans for the repatriation of what they referred to as ‘illegal foreigners’ (additional information can be found in the official statement). This position has prompted a joint response from both the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), who in October 2023 issued an appeal to Pakistan to extend its protective measures for Afghans in desperate need of refuge.
Among the highlighted concerns is the particular vulnerability of Afghan women and girls, who are at heightened risk due to the ongoing humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s rule since 2021 has introduced intense restrictions, notably on women’s education and dress, which exacerbates the threat of repatriation for these populations.
The human rights landscape in Afghanistan, under the Taliban regime, has been characterized by Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur, as one of deepening repression across ethnic, religious, and gender lines—verbalized as amounting to institutional persecution, which, as he flagged, may rise to crimes against humanity.
This ongoing tension and the worldwide calls for a more humane approach underline the complex dynamics of international refugee law and the persistent calls by global bodies to uphold the rights and dignity of displaced populations, with Pakistan featuring prominently in these developments. Further insights into the broader implications and detailed expert statements can be accessed through this report.