Concerns Rise over Alleged Mistreatment of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan, Says UN Human Rights Chief
UN Human Rights Chief expresses deep concern over reported mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan amidst mass deportation policy
United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, expressed his concern over disturbing reports of abuse towards Afghan refugees in Pakistan during the country's forced mass deportation. Türk stated that he is "alarmed" by these reports, particularly highlighting the instances of ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detention, destruction of property and personal belongings, and extortion accompanying the arbitrary expulsion of Afghan nationals from Pakistan. This statement was issued on Wednesday.
He urged Pakistani authorities to halt the repatriation program "until proper individual evaluation processes and necessary safeguards mandated by international law are implemented." Furthermore, he implored Islamabad to investigate "allegations of misconduct by law enforcement personnel." CNN has contacted the Pakistani authorities for their response.
Pakistan, with over a million registered Afghan refugees, initiated a large-scale deportation campaign, urging them to voluntarily depart the country by November 1.
As per the UN, Pakistan has repatriated over 327,000 refugees to Afghanistan, with a significant number being compelled to leave due to the fear of arrest.
According to the statement, the UN has been informed about instances of night raids, seizure of money, jewelry, and livestock, as well as random arrests and detentions of Afghan refugees by the local police in Pakistan. Türk stated that these arbitrary arrests and detentions go against Pakistan's obligations under international law.
The UN Human Rights Chief urged the Pakistani authorities to safeguard individuals who could potentially experience persecution, torture, ill-treatment, or other irreparable harm in Afghanistan, in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement.
Additionally, Türk emphasized the heightened vulnerability of women and girls if they are forcefully returned, as the policies and directives of the de facto authorities restrict their rights to education, economic opportunities, mobility, and participation in society.
The Taliban's takeover of the country in August 2021 resulted in the closure of schools for girls and the prohibition of women attending universities. In addition, they have recently enforced the shutdown of beauty salons and hindered women from visiting a well-known national park.
By the end of 2022, the United Nations refugee agency reported that Pakistan was hosting over 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees and 427,000 individuals in "refugee-like situations" from Afghanistan.
But their presence in Pakistan has always sparked controversy, leading to police crackdowns and threats of deportation in the past. Pakistani authorities justified these actions as a crackdown on "illegal immigrants."
A task force has been established to apprehend individuals using counterfeit identification cards and residing in illegally constructed properties with forged documents. The country's national database and registration authority have been instructed to invalidate any counterfeit identity cards and verify such cases through DNA testing, as stated by authorities earlier.
Numerous Afghan citizens sought refuge in Pakistan following the Soviet invasion in 1979, resulting in the world's largest refugee crisis at the time. Another wave occurred in 2021 when the Taliban regained control of Kabul, leading to thousands of Afghans crossing the Pakistan border with incomplete documentation while awaiting visas to third countries, including the United States.
