Amnesty International has called on Pakistan to immediately reverse its decision to deport hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals, warning that returnees face serious threats including persecution, torture, and enforced disappearances under Taliban rule.
In a statement posted Monday on X, the human rights organization condemned Pakistan’s continued implementation of the second phase of its “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan,” which targets over 800,000 Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders for removal.
“The returnees are facing grave threats in the form of gender persecution, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances of dissenting voices,” Amnesty said.
“We call on the Pakistan government to immediately withdraw its decision to deport Afghan refugees and asylum seekers and take corrective action in accordance with international human rights law,” the group added.
The appeal comes amid intensified crackdowns on Afghan migrants in Pakistan, particularly those holding ACC cards. Reports and video footage shared with media outlets show detainees—including women and children—being held in overcrowded facilities with limited access to drinking water, food, and medical care.
Rights organizations and international agencies have repeatedly expressed concern over Pakistan’s mass deportation campaign, warning that it violates non-refoulement principles and could expose returnees to life-threatening conditions in Afghanistan.
Since the beginning of April, Pakistan has expanded deportations as part of its ongoing migration enforcement strategy, drawing sharp criticism from human rights defenders and Afghan officials.
