Afghan Refugees' Deportation Risks Persecution, Warns Amnesty International

Amnesty International on Wednesday called on Pakistan to continue its "historical support" of Afghan migrants and urged the government of the country not to deport them.

The organisation has said that these refugees will face Taliban’s persecution in Afghanistan.

Nadia Rahman, Amnesty International’s Interim Deputy Regional Director for research in South Asia, in a statement said that the organisation wants the Pakistani government to allow Afghan refugees to live in Pakistan with dignity and without fear of being deported to Afghanistan.

The organisation also called on the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to expedite the process of registration and review of applications of Afghans seeking protection in Pakistan.

"The international community must act immediately to keep up their initial promises of providing protection to those fleeing persecution in Afghanistan,” Rahman said.

According to UNHCR, more than 3.7 million Afghans live in Pakistan, and only 1.4 million of them are registered.

On Tuesday, the UNHCR said that Afghan refugees in Pakistan should be allowed to leave the country voluntarily.

Qaiser Khan Afridi, the UNHCR spokesperson in Pakistan, expressed concern regarding the plan to deport Afghan immigrants from Pakistan. He stated that the United Nations is seeking further clarification from relevant Pakistani authorities regarding the government's recent decision in this regard.

Recently, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also reacted to the decision of the government and demanded immediate cancellation of the move. The commission stated that the deportation of over one million immigrants, due to their alleged links to terrorist and criminal groups, not only demonstrates a lack of compassion, but also a short-sighted and narrow view of national security.