UNHCR Says It Has No Role in Forced Deportation of Afghan Refugees

DID Press: UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has stressed that it is not involved in any plan to deport or forcibly transfer Afghan refugees, saying that the return of people in need of protection must take place only on a voluntary basis.

Qaisar Afridi, a UNHCR spokesperson, said the agency was unaware of any possible discussions between Washington and Islamabad concerning the transfer of Afghan refugees and was not participating in any programme to deport or forcibly return them.

Reaffirming the agency’s position, Afridi said people facing security threats and in need of international protection must not be forcibly deported or returned to their countries of origin.

Referring to Afghanistan’s humanitarian and educational challenges, he added that any transfer or return of refugees must be voluntary, based on their informed consent and in accordance with international laws and standards.

Meanwhile, some officials and informed sources in Islamabad have also said they were unaware of the reported plans to transfer Afghan refugees. Human rights organizations have warned about the legal and security consequences of forcibly deporting the refugees.

Afghanistan’s Taliban-run Foreign Ministry had previously expressed concern over reports that Washington was considering transferring Afghan refugees to Pakistan, calling for direct coordination with Kabul over the fate of Afghan nationals.The ministry also stressed the need to preserve refugees’ human dignity and protect their rights and security.

The emergence of new scenarios for transferring Afghan refugees from Western countries comes as millions of Afghans face mounting pressure to return from neighbouring states. The situation has heightened concerns among human rights organizations, particularly over the safety of vulnerable individuals and Afghans who previously worked with foreign institutions.