GENEVA - Pakistan must take urgent measures to identify Afghans at risk of persecution, torture and other serious human rights violations before deciding to remove any Afghan, UN experts warned today.
"We are gravely concerned over Pakistan's forced return of Afghans," the experts said.
"The immediate priority is the establishment of a transparent and accessible procedure through which Afghans at risk can come forward, be individually assessed, and obtain protection from removal while that assessment is carried out," the experts said. "Without such procedures, vulnerable individuals may remain in hiding, unable to seek protection for fear of arrest, detention or removal."
Last week, authorities in Pakistan directed all medical and dental institutions to remove Afghan students. "For female Afghan students in particular, this move would end their hopes of qualifying as doctors and dentists, because of the Taliban's ban on higher education and medical training for women," the experts warned. At least 100 Afghan students currently in Pakistan will be reportedly affected by these orders, including 20 to 40 women.
"We recognise Pakistan's longstanding humanitarian tradition and leadership in hosting millions of Afghans over several decades," the experts said. "At the same time, we urge the Government of Pakistan to halt the removal of Afghan nationals, especially women and unaccompanied children, in accordance with its obligation of non-refoulement not to return any individual to a situation where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary deprivation of life, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, or other serious and irreparable harm," the experts said.
They were concerned about the implementation of a directive issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Interior on 28 June 2026, instructing provincial authorities to detain and deport Afghan nationals without valid documentation after 10 July 2026.
According to information received by the experts, approximately 127,344 Afghans crossed back into Afghanistan between 10 July and 27 August 2026, including at least 14,186 who were reportedly forcibly removed. Approximately 38,388 of those crossing the border were women and children.
The experts said they had received scores of pleas from Afghans in Pakistan. "These include women and girls, human rights defenders, journalists and media workers, former judges, prosecutors and lawyers, former security personnel and government officials, members of particular ethnic and religious or belief communities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and gender-diverse persons, and people who oppose, or are perceived to oppose, the de facto authorities."
They also raised serious concerns about reports of unaccompanied Afghan children being returned to Afghanistan where adequate child-sensitive reception, assistance and protection mechanisms are absent.
While welcoming information provided by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 30 July that approximately 16,000 vulnerable Afghans had been identified and measures taken to alert law enforcement officials, the experts called for greater clarity regarding the criteria and procedures used to identify them.
Such mechanisms should allow Afghan nationals who may face persecution, torture or other irreparable harm to come forward without fear of detention or removal, receive an individual assessment and, where appropriate, obtain temporary protection and access to a secure residence status.
They noted that Pakistan was not alone in removing Afghans and called on all countries to fulfill the obligation of non-refoulement, which is customary international law and binding on all States.
"We also urge wealthier countries to share responsibility, including by providing political and financial support to host countries in the region, by fulfilling commitments to resettle Afghans from Pakistan and continuing to offer safe pathways to Afghans at serious risk of persecution and ensure they also respect and fulfill the principle of non-refoulement," the experts said.
The experts are in contact with the Government of Pakistan regarding this matter.
