UNHCR Urges Pakistan to Halt Deportations of Vulnerable Afghan Refugees Amid Rising Tensions
As tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan heat up over various issues, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is making a strong plea. The agency wants Pakistan to stop deporting Afghan asylum seekers who need protection and ensure they get international help right away.
Afghanistan is already grappling with tough challenges like widespread poverty, severe drought, and the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. Now, the country faces yet another crisis: a sudden influx of vulnerable Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan, adding more strain to its fragile systems.
From Geneva on September 12, UNHCR’s representative for Afghanistan, Arafat Jamal, directly appealed to Islamabad. He urged Pakistani authorities not to expel Afghans who qualify for protection. "UNHCR stands ready to work closely with Pakistan to identify and protect the most at-risk groups," the agency stated, highlighting its willingness to collaborate.
Jamal also sounded the alarm on funding shortages. Without new money, UNHCR can’t keep up its life-saving aid for Afghan families hit by multiple crises. The agency has updated its regional appeal, asking for $258.6 million to tackle urgent needs like food, shelter, and healthcare for Afghan refugees.
This call comes as returns from Pakistan pick up speed. Under Pakistan’s "Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan," over 554,000 Afghans have headed back since April, with 143,000 crossing the border in August alone. In the first week of September, nearly 100,000 more Afghans returned, piling extra pressure on Afghanistan’s shaky economy and overstretched public services.
UNHCR keeps pushing Pakistan to stick to its history of humanitarian support for Afghan refugees. The agency stresses the need for regional cooperation to handle this massive displacement.
UN estimates show more than 2.6 million Afghan migrants have been deported from neighboring countries since early 2025. This huge number highlights the scale of forced returns and why global help is crucial now.
Afghanistan simply isn’t ready for this. With severe food shortages, limited shelter options, and weak health systems, absorbing so many returnees could worsen the humanitarian crisis. UNHCR’s message is clear: protecting vulnerable Afghan asylum seekers must come first to avoid deeper troubles.
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