UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Halt to Deportation of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan

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Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, has expressed concern over the ongoing deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and called for an immediate halt to the process.

On Friday (August 29) he wrote on the social media platform X that Afghanistan remains unsafe for many of its citizens, and forced deportations are inconsistent with Pakistan’s international obligations.

Bennett stressed that countries supporting Afghans must create more pathways for resettlement and increase assistance to Pakistan and other neighboring countries hosting millions of Afghan refugees.

These concerns come as Pakistani officials have announced that beginning September 1, even refugees holding temporary registration cards (PoR) will be included in the deportation process.

Earlier, the UNHCR and other international organizations had also warned that mass deportations could trigger a new humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.