Crisis Group Urges EU to Press Pakistan to Halt Deportation of Afghan Refugees

Crisis Group Urges EU to Press Pakistan to Halt Deportation of Afghan Refugees

The International Crisis Group (ICG) has urged the European Union (EU) to press Pakistan to stop deporting Afghan refugees, warning that many of them face serious risks under Taliban rule.

In a report released Thursday, the Brussels-based independent think tank stated that Pakistan should at least refrain from deporting individuals at risk of persecution—especially women and girls, journalists, and human rights defenders.

The ICG also called on EU member states to push Pakistan to extend the legal status of registered Afghan refugees, including those holding UN-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, for at least another year. These cards are due to expire on June 30, 2025.

It emphasized that Pakistan should halt the detention and deportation of Afghan refugees whose asylum and resettlement cases with EU nations have already been approved but who have not yet been relocated.

Crisis Group urged European governments to expedite resettlement, particularly for Afghan women and girls, who face severe restrictions under Taliban governance.

The organization further called on the EU to increase humanitarian support for Afghan refugees and their host communities in Pakistan, as well as for returnees inside Afghanistan.

Since the 1980s, millions of Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan due to the Soviet invasion and subsequent civil war. Thousands more arrived after the 2021 withdrawal of Western forces, which led to the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s return to power.

In late 2023, Pakistan began a mass deportation campaign, expelling thousands of Afghans daily. Authorities report that at least 1.3 million individuals have been expelled to date.

Initially focused on undocumented Afghans, the campaign has expanded to include holders of temporary UN and Pakistani documents, such as PoR and Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). The government now aims to deport over two million Afghans holding these cards.

Following the Taliban’s resurgence, some Afghans purchased expensive Pakistani visas—ranging from $300 to $1,200 for three- to six-month stays. Recent reports indicate these visas are no longer being extended, placing many legal entrants at risk of deportation.

Human rights groups and UN agencies have repeatedly urged Pakistan to halt deportations amid Afghanistan’s deteriorating conditions. Nearly 23 million people—mostly women and children—depend on humanitarian aid, and women’s rights remain severely restricted.

Rights organizations have raised alarms that returnees, particularly former officials, journalists, and activists, face risks of retaliation, detention, or abuse by the Taliban.