Human Rights Watch: From Extortion in Pakistan to Taliban Reprisals in Afghanistan

Forced Return of Afghan Refugees: From Persecution in Pakistan to an Uncertain Future in Afghanistan

Human Rights Watch has warned that the forced return of Afghan refugees has put them at serious risk of Taliban persecution and dire living conditions in Afghanistan. Many of those affected—particularly women, children, journalists, human rights defenders, and former security personnel—are facing severe threats.

In Pakistan, refugees have experienced widespread crackdowns, including police raids on their homes, arbitrary detentions, extortion, and the confiscation of legal documents. Many have been forced to abandon their homes and belongings to return to Afghanistan, where they struggle to access employment, healthcare, and education.

Since the Taliban’s takeover, Afghanistan has plunged into a deep economic and humanitarian crisis. Women have been banned from working and attending school, personal freedoms have been drastically curtailed, and dissent is met with brutal repression. Returnees often find themselves without shelter, jobs, or even identification documents.

Human Rights Watch has urged Pakistan to halt the mass deportation of Afghan refugees and allow them to stay in safety. The organization has also called on other governments to refrain from returning Afghans to a country where they would face persecution, violence, and deprivation.