The Return of Refugees to Afghanistan Must Be Voluntary

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed alarm at the recent decision by the government of Pakistan to forcibly repatriate Afghan refugees who possess proof of registration cards. On July 31, Pakistani authorities confirmed their repatriation plan under a project called the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, leading to an increase in the arrest and detention of Afghans in various regions of the country, including those who are properly documented.

Pakistan has been a refuge for more than two million Afghans over the years, of which about 1.3 million are officially registered. However, this year more than 2.1 million Afghans have been forced to return, including around 352,000 from Pakistan. During a press conference in Geneva, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch emphasized that Pakistan has hosted refugees for over 40 years and warned that the forced repatriation of those with refugee status contradicts the humanitarian approach that the country has historically maintained.

Particularly concerning is the situation of women and girls who may be forced to return to an Afghanistan where their human rights are under threat. Baloch made an urgent appeal to the Pakistani authorities to ensure that any return to Afghanistan is “voluntary, safe, and dignified.”

UNHCR has also requested an extension of the validity of protection cards for Afghans and positively assessed the one-month extension granted by Pakistan. The agency further urged the government to implement measures that prevent the involuntary return of Afghans who still need international protection.

Baloch highlighted Pakistan’s willingness to allow the legal stay of Afghans who require medical attention, those in higher education programs, or those who are part of mixed marriages. UNHCR has expressed its readiness to cooperate with Pakistan to establish mechanisms that ensure a proper and safe return.

On the other hand, the phenomenon of the mass return of Afghans this year from neighboring countries has placed considerable pressure on basic services, housing, and livelihoods of communities hosting the returnees, further exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. According to UNHCR warnings, hasty returns increase protection needs and could destabilize not only Afghanistan but also the surrounding region, leading to potential forced displacement.