RASC News Agency: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised grave concerns over the forced deportation of Afghanistani refugees from Pakistan, warning that returnees face severe risks, including persecution by the Taliban, economic destitution, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation. According to the report, the human rights landscape in Afghanistan has significantly worsened since the Taliban’s return to power. Those forcibly repatriated encounter widespread unemployment, a collapsing healthcare system, and a sharp decline in international aid, leaving them in an increasingly precarious state.
HRW has urged Pakistan to immediately halt the mass expulsion of Afghanistani refugees, emphasizing that no one should be forcibly returned to a country where they risk persecution and abuse. The organization has also called on the Taliban to cease mistreatment of returnees and to issue official identification documents to facilitate their reintegration into society. The report highlights Pakistan’s escalating pressure on Afghanistani refugees to leave, noting that those deported are trapped between Taliban repression and dire economic conditions.
Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, has implored Pakistani authorities to abandon their heavy-handed approach and instead ensure the protection and rights of Afghanistani refugees. She has also called on the Taliban to refrain from acts of retribution against returnees and to repeal their oppressive policies, particularly those restricting the rights of women and girls. HRW further reports that over 800,000 Afghanistani refugees have been forcibly repatriated in recent months, with a substantial number being women and children many of whom now face immense challenges, including restricted access to education and basic services.
Additionally, the organization has documented multiple cases of Afghanistani refugees in Pakistan being subjected to police brutality, arbitrary detention, and the unlawful confiscation of legal documents, exacerbating their already dire circumstances.
