The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged Pakistan to stop deporting vulnerable Afghan asylum seekers and to ensure they are granted international protection, as tensions between Islamabad and Kabul intensify.
Afghanistan, already reeling from poverty, drought-like conditions and the devastation caused by a recent earthquake, is facing fresh strain with the influx of returning asylum seekers.
“Speaking from Geneva on September 12, UNHCR representative for Afghanistan Arafat Jamal appealed to Islamabad not to expel Afghans who require protection. He noted that the UN refugee agency was ready to cooperate with Pakistani authorities to identify and safeguard the most vulnerable groups,” the UNHCR said in a statement.
Jamal also cautioned that without additional funding, the agency would be unable to sustain life-saving support for Afghan families coping with overlapping crises.
The UNHCR has updated its regional appeal and is now seeking $258.6 million to address urgent needs.
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The appeal comes as Pakistan resumes implementation of its “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan”. According to UNHCR, more than 554,000 Afghans have returned since April — including 143,000 in August alone.
Nearly 100,000 Afghans reportedly crossed back during the first week of September, intensifying pressure on Afghanistan’s fragile economy and limited public services.
The agency said it continues to urge Pakistan to uphold its long-standing humanitarian approach towards Afghan refugees.
According to UN estimates, more than 2.6 million Afghan migrants have been deported from neighbouring countries since the beginning of 2025.
The figure underscores the immense scale of forced displacement and the urgent need for regional and international cooperation.
With severe food shortages, inadequate shelter and weak health systems, Afghanistan remains ill-prepared to absorb such high numbers of returnees.
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