Refugees who fled to Pakistan after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan are now living in uncertainty and harsh conditions. They report that the United States and other Western countries promised to relocate them and instructed them to move to third countries, but nearly four years have passed since their cases began processing, with no updates on their fate. Meanwhile, they face the risk of forced deportation, abuse, and extortion by Pakistani police. These refugees add that if returned to Afghanistan, they would be detained and killed by the Taliban due to their prior collaboration with U.S. forces. They urge Western countries to expedite their relocation process and pressure the Pakistani government to stop harassing refugees further.
Many refugees, who have been waiting nearly four years for relocation to the United States and other Western countries, remain in limbo in Pakistan. They say they have endured significant economic and psychological hardships, hoping for a safer environment to protect themselves and their children from violence and poverty. However, they now face the threat of forced deportation and, in addition to the risk of Taliban retaliation, lack food or shelter in Afghanistan, having spent all their resources in Pakistan.
Ahmad, a journalist, fled to Pakistan three years ago, hoping for relocation to the United States. He says that before the Taliban’s takeover, he worked on a U.S.-funded project supporting freedom of expression and media, producing dozens of reports on widespread human rights violations and civilian killings by the Taliban, risking his life in the process. According to Ahmad, he worked to promote democracy and modern values, but has now been left in uncertainty, with no responses from the institutions handling his case.
Sadis, a former collaborator with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, says he fought alongside them against international terrorism for nearly a decade but has now been abandoned by the U.S. and faces forced deportation. He states, “Extending my Pakistani visa, even for a month, was financially crippling, but even that option has ended, and forced deportation is now certain. We hide from the police every day; how long must we endure this misery?”
Zohal, a young woman awaiting relocation to the United States, says, “Under Donald Trump’s orders, the P-1 and P-2 relocation programs were suspended, and I now face forced deportation.” She adds, “Our situation is so dire that we cannot sleep at night due to fear of the police. Our children are terrified and deprived of education and healthcare. We brought them to Pakistan for a better future, trusting U.S. commitments, but now we’ve been abandoned, and no one addresses our plight. We have no government to defend our rights and no country fulfilling its promises. We sold everything to come here, but we’re left in limbo.”
Abu Bakr, another refugee, says, “Four years feels like a lifetime. We stayed in Pakistan based on U.S. promises, sold everything we had, and spent it all, but now we have nothing to eat and no way to return or move forward. We’re lost, wondering how long we must endure this uncertainty and displacement. I feel ashamed and helpless when my children hide at the mention of the police.”
Amid rising forced deportations, the Pakistani government has also halted the renewal of residence visas for Afghan refugees, exposing them to unconditional expulsion. Refugees express concern that, despite severe economic challenges, they previously managed to renew their visas, but this process has now stopped due to fraud by some visa brokers.
Shahabuddin, a refugee awaiting relocation to the United States, says, “My case was fully processed, and I was waiting for a flight when the process suddenly stopped. Now I face forced deportation from Pakistan. Previously, visas were renewed monthly, and despite the difficulties, it was manageable, but this process has been halted for nearly three weeks, putting thousands, including me, at risk of forced deportation.”
Rahila (pseudonym), a female protester, says, “My visa has expired, and the renewal process has stopped. I live in constant fear and anxiety. The stress of these years in Pakistan has caused me various mental, psychological, and physical health issues. If deported, the Taliban will detain me and possibly kill me. We urge Western countries to pressure Pakistan to stop harassing us further.”
Concerns about the situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan have grown after Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, announced that the government has decided not to renew the temporary Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for Afghan refugees. He warned that deported refugees would be blacklisted and barred from re-entering Pakistan. Naqvi stated that this is part of a shift in Pakistan’s national policy, emphasizing that no leniency will be shown to undocumented migrants, particularly Afghan citizens.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva, called on regional countries to ensure that the return of Afghan migrants is voluntary, safe, and compliant with international law. She warned that deporting migrants to a country where they face risks of torture, abuse, or cruel punishment is a clear violation of international law. Shamdasani stressed, “Now is not the time to turn away from the people of Afghanistan.”
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
پناهجویان افغانستان؛ قربانی باجخواهی پولیس پاکستان و وعدههای فراموششده امریکا
