Islamabad [Pakistan]: Afghan migrants in Pakistan continue to face arrests, harassment, and the threat of deportation, prompting renewed calls for international intervention, according to a report by Tolo News.
Amid an escalating crackdown by Pakistani authorities, migrants have appealed to global refugee-support organizations to protect their rights and ensure humane treatment. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) has responded by launching an emergency appeal to support Afghan nationals returning to their homeland.
A migrant residing in Pakistan told Tolo News, “There are 1.4 million holders of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and 800,000 holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) living here. Many are engaged in businesses and cannot simply shut them down within a month or two. Their livelihoods are deeply rooted in Pakistan.”
Another Afghan migrant emphasized the need for diplomatic engagement: “Authorities in Afghanistan must initiate talks—through UNHCR, IOM, and under international frameworks like the Geneva Convention—with officials in Islamabad and Tehran to resolve these issues.”
In Iran, Afghan migrants are also reportedly facing deportation. Tolo News noted that some Afghan nationals, after their census documents were invalidated, received exit permits from the Kafalat office, a government registration centre for migrants.
In response to these developments, Amnesty International has condemned Pakistan’s actions, warning that mass deportations violate the principle of non-refoulement. The rights group highlighted the grave risks Afghan refugees, particularly women and girls, face if returned, including threats to their safety, education, and livelihoods.
Human rights organisations and refugee advocates are now urging Pakistan to reconsider its current policies and uphold its international obligations. They stress the importance of coordinated global efforts to manage the ongoing refugee crisis in a manner that protects the dignity and rights of Afghan migrants.
Tags:
Afghan refugees, Pakistan deportation, IFRC emergency appeal, Amnesty International, Afghan Citizen Cards, Proof of Registration, UNHCR, refugee crisis, international law, Geneva Convention, non-refoulement, human rights, Iran deportations, Afghan migrants in Pakistan