PARIS: Amnesty International on Tuesday called on governments to immediately stop the forced deportation of Afghan nationals, warning that returnees face a “real risk of serious harm” amid Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian situation.
In a statement, the rights organisation said that Pakistan, Iran and some European countries were unlawfully deporting Afghans in violation of international law, which prohibits forcibly returning individuals to places where they may face grave human rights abuses.
The appeal comes as Afghanistan experiences a large influx of returnees. According to Georgette Gagnon, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, around 2.5 million Afghans have returned to the country so far this year. Briefing the UN Security Council last week, she said the returns amounted to a six per cent increase in Afghanistan’s population, placing additional strain on an already fragile economy and humanitarian system.
Amnesty said Afghanistan’s ongoing crises — including widespread poverty, food insecurity, climate-related disasters and restrictions imposed by the Taliban — have significantly heightened risks for those being sent back. The organisation noted that many returnees struggle to secure employment, housing or basic services, while women and girls face severe curbs on education, movement and employment.
“Countries must comply with their obligations under international law and immediately halt forcible returns to Afghanistan,” Amnesty said, stressing that deportations were taking place despite clear evidence of deteriorating conditions on the ground.
Large Afghan refugee populations have lived in Pakistan and Iran for decades, following successive waves of conflict since the late 1970s. Many younger Afghans were born and raised abroad and have little or no experience of life in Afghanistan. In recent years, however, both countries have stepped up deportations, with Pakistan citing security concerns and alleging that undocumented migrants include criminals and militants.
Amnesty also expressed concern over reports that some European states are exploring similar measures. It cited media accounts suggesting that Germany, Austria and the European Union are in talks with the Taliban authorities to facilitate returns, a move the organisation said could place vulnerable individuals at risk.
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Smriti Singh, Amnesty’s South Asia director, said that forcibly returning Afghans ignored the reasons they fled and the dangers they could face upon return. “This rush to deport people back to Afghanistan disregards the severe human rights situation and the lack of safety and dignity for returnees,” she said.
Generations of Afghans have fled to Pakistan and Iran over decades of successive wars, meaning that many young people have never lived in the country.https://t.co/zcxsplk6ry
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 17, 2025
The organisation urged governments to prioritise protection, expand legal pathways for refugees and ensure that asylum decisions reflect current conditions in Afghanistan. Amnesty also called on the international community to increase humanitarian assistance to help Afghanistan cope with the growing number of returnees.
Afghanistan remains under Taliban rule since August 2021, with international agencies repeatedly warning that sustained isolation and reduced aid have deepened the country’s humanitarian emergency.
