Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Over 1.9 million Afghan migrants were deported from Iran and Pakistan in seven months, prompting UN calls to halt forced, unsafe returns immediately.
Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has reported that more than 1.9 million Afghan migrants have been deported from Iran and Pakistan in the past seven months.
Speaking on Friday, July 18, Türk stated that over 1.5 million people were returned from Iran, while more than 300,000 were expelled from Pakistan.
He warned that many of those being deported face serious risks of abuse, torture, or arbitrary detention in Afghanistan and should not be forcibly returned.
The High Commissioner called for an immediate halt to deportations, emphasizing that returns must be voluntary, safe, dignified, and in line with international law.
According to Türk, Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian and human rights crisis. Returnees—whether forced or voluntary—face discrimination, violence, economic hardship, and lack of employment opportunities.
He stressed that specific groups such as women, girls, journalists, and former government employees are particularly vulnerable and under serious threat in Afghanistan.
These warnings come as the pace of forced deportations of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries continues to increase, raising alarm among rights organizations.
In a recent case, Germany deported 81 Afghan refugees, citing criminal records. This incident adds to growing international concern about the safety and legality of such deportations.
The UN has urged all countries to prioritize protection, uphold asylum rights, and avoid returning individuals to dangerous conditions. The current deportation trend, if continued, may deepen Afghanistan’s ongoing crisis and put thousands more lives at risk.