AT LEAST 1.4 MILLION AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PAKISTAN ARE AT RISK OF FORCIBLE DEPORTATIONS

Since November 1, 2023, at least 300,000 Afghan refugees in Pakistan have been deported to Afghanistan. Others have been subjected to arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, with many families being separated as a result of the crackdown. Those being kept in newly established detention centres have been denied access to their families, lawyers and the media.

Many of the affected refugees have also had their homes demolished and properties seized since the government announced plans to forcibly remove unregistered Afghan refugees from the country. Several cases have been documented of Afghan refugees with proper documentation being deported as well.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that that there are presently more than 3.7 million Afghans living in Pakistan, the largest population of Afghan refugees in the world.  This number includes 600,000 - human rights defenders, journalists, women activists and protesters - who fled Afghanistan due to fear of Taliban’s reprisal after the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021. Some people facing deportation from Pakistan could be applicants under Canada’s immigration programs, including the Special Immigration Measures Program for Afghans and the Human Rights Defenders stream. 

The forcible deportation exercise is happening at a time when Afghanistan is grappling with a humanitarian crisis with more than 97% of the population living in poverty. Those being forced to return risk homelessness, loss of livelihood and lack of access to essential services. Political dissidents, activists and former government employees who fled to Pakistan risk being arrested, tortured and forcibly disappeared if deported.