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May 28, 2025 – Pakistan –
A coalition of 15 international organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), PEN International, and Reporters Without Borders, has called on Pakistan to immediately suspend the deportation of Afghan journalists and other at-risk individuals. The joint statement, issued on May 28, 2025, expresses grave concern over Pakistan’s “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,” announced in October 2023, which has led to the forced return of tens of thousands of Afghans in recent months.
The organizations warn that deported individuals, particularly journalists, writers, artists, and human rights defenders, face a high risk of arbitrary arrest, torture, and imprisonment under the Taliban regime. They highlight that many of those deported had originally sought safety in Pakistan with plans to resettle in third countries. However, delays in humanitarian visa processing, especially in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, have left thousands in limbo.
The statement also underscores the unique risks faced by women and girls deported to Afghanistan, citing overwhelming levels of repression that impact every aspect of their lives. U.N. experts have described this situation as gender apartheid.
In addition to international organizations, more than a dozen Afghan cultural and media groups have urged the Pakistani government to halt the mass deportation of Afghan refugees. They warn that forced returns are putting thousands of lives at serious risk, particularly those of writers, journalists, artists, and human rights defenders who fear persecution under Taliban rule.
The coalition’s appeal emphasizes the need for Pakistan to uphold its human rights obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to a country where they may face harm. They also call on the international community to provide safe and legal pathways for at-risk Afghans and to expedite resettlement processes to prevent further endangerment of vulnerable populations.
Reference –
CPJ, partners urge Pakistan to halt arbitrary deportations of Afghan journalists
