ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Amnesty International has condemned Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan migrants, saying thousands are being harassed, unlawfully detained, and forced to leave the country as part of an ongoing crackdown on undocumented residents.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, the human rights organization said that more than 840,000 Afghans have been forced out of Pakistan since 2023, amid a growing campaign to expel refugees — many of whom fled the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
“As part of the deportation drive, authorities are now ramping up efforts to expel Afghan nationals from Islamabad and Rawalpindi — two key cities where they seek protection and process immigration cases,” Amnesty said.
The group warned that even Afghan Citizen Card holders, many of whom have lived in Pakistan for years, now face the threat of deportation. These cardholders were previously allowed to stay in the country legally but are now being caught up in the broader expulsion campaign.
“This crackdown is cruel, puts countless lives at risk, and violates the principle of non-refoulement,” Amnesty said, referring to the international legal principle that prohibits returning asylum seekers to a country where they face danger. “Pakistan must stop this harassment and unlawful deportations.”
The warning comes just days before a March 31 deadline set by the Pakistani government for Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave the country voluntarily or face forcible removal. Rights groups say the policy has left hundreds of thousands of Afghans in an increasingly precarious and vulnerable position.
Pakistan has justified the expulsions on security grounds, pointing to a rise in militant attacks that it claims are linked to Afghan-based groups — a charge the Taliban deny. Critics, however, say the sweeping nature of the crackdown has affected many vulnerable families, including women and children, with little due process or notice.
