Afghanistan Peace CampaignA representative of the organization told TOLOnews that the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees by Pakistan violates international laws.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan has called for the suspension of Afghan refugee deportations from the country.
Qaiser Khan, Deputy Spokesperson for UNHCR in Pakistan, said: “UNHCR is ready to assist the government of Pakistan both financially and technically. We urge the government not to deport Afghans who have been refugees for many years.”
While the deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has intensified over the past week, statistics from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate that over the past five days, more than 26,000 people have entered Afghanistan through shared border crossings between the two countries.
However, over 25,000 people have returned to Pakistan via crossings such as Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Dand-e-Patan, Angoor Adda, and Spin Boldak.
Ehsanullah Ahmadzai, a migrant rights activist, stated: “The international community, especially the United Nations and its affiliated bodies, particularly UNHCR and IOM, must collaborate with the current Afghan government on refugee matters.”
Meanwhile, some Afghan refugees in Pakistan have once again reported mistreatment and forced deportation by Pakistani police.
Qasim, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, said: “All refugees here face problems, including those who are unaccompanied, those with visas, those applying for visa extensions, and even those with illnesses.”
The recent escalation in the deportation of Afghan refugees over the past week has drawn widespread criticism from international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Amnesty International.