Rights Group Warns of Escalated Afghan Deportations from Pakistan Amid Border Tensions

Human Rights Watch has reported a significant escalation in the arbitrary detention and forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, citing over 146,000 returns in 2026 alone. The rights organization stated that the crackdown has intensified following recent border clashes and security tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban.

According to the report, Pakistani authorities have conducted widespread night raids and warrantless arrests, targeting individuals even when they hold valid visas. Migrants have reported that police frequently confiscate mobile phones and cash, while demanding bribes. Those unable to pay are detained and subsequently deported. The campaign has also prompted Pakistan to halt the renewal of refugee registration and residency documents, a policy shift that began in 2023 and has left many Afghans without legal status.

The widespread fear of arrest has severely restricted migrants’ access to essential services, including healthcare and education. Human Rights Watch warned that the forced returns may violate international law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they face persecution.

Returnees, especially journalists, activists, and former government officials, face heightened security risks upon crossing back into Afghanistan. Reporters Without Borders documented at least nine Afghan journalists who were forcibly deported from Pakistan this year. Human Rights Watch has urged Islamabad to immediately suspend the deportation campaign and address the humanitarian and legal vulnerabilities affecting Afghan refugees.