Amid the continued mistreatment of Afghans by Pakistan on its territory and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has found that Afghans residing in Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been deprived of their lawful and basic rights.
According to these findings, the UN agency also stated that, in addition to lacking access to their rights, Afghan refugees are facing serious security and social challenges.
UNHCR’s representative in Pakistan, Philippa Candler, said:
“Afghan refugees in Pakistan do not have access to their fundamental rights. They are facing security and social problems in this country. Protecting their rights and safeguarding their human dignity is important. The United Nations, in cooperation with its partners, is making efforts to protect their rights.”
Afghan refugees living in Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa say the Pakistani government treats them unfairly and has accelerated the process of their forced expulsion during this cold winter.
They are calling on international refugee and human rights organizations to address their problems and to pressure Pakistan to stop its mistreatment.
Afghan refugee Mujahid Shinwari, who resides in Pakistan, said:
“Pakistan allowed Afghan refugees to stay of its own accord and had accepted that it would not expel them by force. The forced deportation of Afghan refugees violates international principles and human rights. We call on the United Nations and human rights organizations to stop Pakistan’s coercion and to stand up for Afghan refugees.”
Meanwhile, some Pakistani media outlets have reported that the country plans to return 19,973 Afghans to Afghanistan who are currently residing in Pakistan while awaiting resettlement to the United States.
According to these reports, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has sent letters to all provincial governments with recommendations regarding the repatriation of this number of Afghan refugees.
Observers say Pakistan has consistently adopted a double standard toward Afghans, and that Afghan refugees have not been spared from the consequences of its misguided policies.
Political analyst Kamal Nasser Osuli said:
“Pakistan has always treated Afghans with double standards. Afghan refugees are not safe from its oppressive policies. Refugees living there have been beaten, humiliated, and imprisoned. Pakistan has consistently violated refugee principles, breached human rights, and treated Afghan migrants cruelly.”
Since 2023, Pakistan has launched a campaign of forced deportation of Afghan refugees residing in the country and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During expulsions, their assets have been confiscated, and they have not even been allowed to take their household belongings. Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees has been widely condemned at both regional and global levels.
