Amnesty International Calls for End to Deportation of Afghan Refugees and Renewal of Their Residence Cards in Pakistan

Photo: AP via voanews

Amnesty International, expressing concern over the uncertain situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, has called on the Pakistani government to halt deportations and extend the validity of their legal residence cards (PoR).

According to the organization, the non-renewal of PoR cards has left the lives of approximately 1.4 million Afghan refugees in limbo.

It is worth noting that the validity of these cards expired on June 30, 2025, and more than a month has passed without any decision being made regarding their extension.

This situation puts Afghan refugees at risk of arrest, harassment, deportation, and statelessness, especially unaccompanied women and children who are the most vulnerable group in this migration crisis.

Alongside Pakistan, the large-scale deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran also continues. According to statistics provided by the Taliban, in just the past three months, around 1.8 million people have been forcibly returned from Iran to Afghanistan.

This wave of expulsions comes at a time when Afghanistan is facing a severe economic crisis, a lack of infrastructure to support returnees, and increasing pressure on women and vulnerable groups. Many women who have returned from Iran and Pakistan report that they now live in tents or mosques, without shelter, jobs, or support.

Under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, women face extreme restrictions; from being deprived of education and work to being banned from moving freely without a male guardian and denied access to public spaces. The return of migrant women to such conditions means a renewed plunge into the cycle of violence, discrimination, and poverty.