Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Amnesty International has warned that Afghan refugees who are returned to Afghanistan face serious human rights violations and worsening humanitarian conditions, as deportations from neighboring countries continue to increase.
Marking World Refugee Day on Saturday, Amnesty International said millions of Afghan refugees and migrants are facing growing pressure, detention and deportation in host countries. The organization added that many Afghans experience arbitrary arrests, family separations and other protection concerns before being returned.
In a statement posted on X, Amnesty International said that many deported Afghans return to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, where they face insecurity, economic hardship and restrictions on fundamental rights.
The warning comes as international agencies report a sharp rise in returns from neighboring countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) have repeatedly called for refugee returns to be voluntary, safe and dignified, while urging greater international support for returnees and host communities.
Pakistan has been at the center of the latest deportation wave. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently said that around 2.4 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan since September 2023, including both voluntary returnees and those deported under Pakistan’s repatriation policies. Human rights groups and aid agencies have expressed concern about the impact of these large-scale returns on vulnerable families.
Afghanistan continues to face a deep humanitarian and economic crisis. Millions of people rely on humanitarian assistance, while women and girls remain subject to extensive restrictions on education, employment and public life under Taliban rule. Rights organizations say these conditions make reintegration particularly difficult for returning refugees.
The situation has become increasingly challenging for Afghan journalists, former government employees, women activists and others who fear persecution upon return. International organizations have urged governments not to forcibly return individuals who may face serious risks in Afghanistan.
Amnesty International called on governments to uphold international refugee protection standards and ensure that Afghan refugees are not returned to conditions that could place their safety, rights and dignity at risk.