KABUL, Afghanistan — Former President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday urged Pakistan to treat Afghan migrants with dignity and in accordance with international law, amid ongoing reports of forced deportations and alleged mistreatment by Pakistani authorities.
In a statement posted on X, Karzai said he was “deeply saddened” by the treatment of Afghan nationals by Pakistani police and called on Islamabad to uphold the principles of good neighborly relations.
“I call on the government of Pakistan to treat Afghan migrants in the spirit of brotherhood, good neighborliness, and international standards,” Karzai wrote.
He also appealed to international organizations and Afghan private sector leaders to assist returnees, many of whom face economic hardship and housing insecurity after being expelled from Pakistan.
Karzai added that he hoped the root causes of migration — including restrictions on education and especially the ban on girls’ schooling — would be resolved so that Afghans would no longer feel compelled to leave their country.
His comments come as Pakistan intensifies its deportation campaign, forcing thousands of Afghan migrants to return across the border. Some returnees told Amu TV that their personal belongings were confiscated by Pakistani police during the process, and that they are now struggling to rebuild their lives with little support or shelter.
