Pakistan Begins Deporting Legal Afghan Refugees Before Deadline, UN Warns of Rights Violations

Pakistan has begun deporting legally registered Afghan refugees ahead of its announced September 1 deadline, drawing sharp criticism from the UNHCR, which called the move a breach of international obligations. Despite government assurances that deportations would formally begin next month, hundreds of Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards have reportedly been arrested and expelled since August 1. The interior ministry’s policy targets over 1.3 million PoR cardholders, whose documentation expired on June 30, with an additional 750,000 Afghans registered under other schemes. The UN warns that such hasty repatriations risk lives and regional stability, urging Pakistan to ensure returns are voluntary, gradual, and dignified.