HRW: Pakistan’s Afghan Deportations May Breach International Law
DID Press: The advocacy group Human Rights Watch has reported that authorities in Pakistan, following rising tensions with Afghanistan, have launched a new wave of arbitrary arrests, nighttime raids, and forced deportations of Afghan migrants—actions that have deprived thousands, particularly children, of access to essential services such as healthcare and education while creating widespread fear and insecurity within migrant communities.
According to the organization, Pakistani police have conducted nighttime operations and house-to-house searches across several cities, detaining even individuals holding valid visas and transferring them to detention centers before deportation.
Since the start of 2026, more than 146,000 Afghan nationals have reportedly been expelled from Pakistan.
Fereshta Abbasi stated that these measures have intensified fear among migrants, discouraging many from visiting medical facilities or purchasing basic necessities such as food.
Based on interviews cited in the report, police officers in some cases allegedly confiscated migrants’ money and mobile phones during arrests and demanded bribes in exchange for release. Those unable to pay were detained and deported.
The report further noted that many deportees—including journalists and activists—face risks of persecution if returned to Afghanistan. The press freedom group Reporters Without Borders stated that since early 2026, at least nine Afghan journalists have been forcibly returned from Pakistan.
Restrictions on access to healthcare have also led families to avoid taking sick relatives to hospitals for fear of arrest. In some instances, family members were separated during detention, and children were reportedly sent back to Afghanistan alone.
Human Rights Watch warned that these actions could constitute violations of Pakistan’s international obligations, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, and called on the Pakistani government to immediately halt the deportation campaign.