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Wednesday, Apr 02, 2025
Outside the box.
Afghan Women’s Rights Activists Face Deportation From Pakistan Amid Taliban Threat
Over 50 Afghan women’s rights defenders are at risk of return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as Pakistan enforces strict deportation policies.
More than 50 prominent female Afghan women’s rights activists currently residing in Pakistan are facing imminent deportation to Afghanistan, where they fear severe repercussions, including imprisonment or execution, under the Taliban regime.
This situation arises within the context of Pakistan's recently intensified policy aimed at expelling millions of Afghan nationals following a notable decline in diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and a surge in militant attacks near the border.
The Pakistan government has labeled Afghan refugees as “terrorists” and “traitors,” alleging that they contribute to crime and instability within the country.
Since the commencement of these deportations in September 2023, nearly 845,000 Afghan nationals have reportedly been forcibly sent back to Afghanistan, where they are at significant risk of persecution by the ruling Taliban.
Among those threatened with deportation are 60 female activists and human rights defenders, who have fled Afghanistan to escape the Taliban's brutal repression of women's rights and their suppression of education and activism.
Many of these women are now living in hiding, particularly in urban areas such as Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where reports indicate police are conducting arbitrary arrests and demanding substantial bribes from Afghan migrants.
Humaira Alim, a woman’s rights and education advocate who fled Afghanistan in December 2022 due to escalating threats against her life from the Taliban, articulated her desperation to avoid returning to Afghanistan, stating that for her, repatriation would likely result in death.
Alim, who has been living in Islamabad with her two young children on a month-to-month visa, described her precarious existence as an “awful nightmare,” compounded by the constant threat of police harassment and the need to hide from authorities.
The Pakistan government has mandated that all undocumented Afghan nationals must depart by 31 March 2024 or face arrest.
Activists, including Alim, have sought additional time to explore opportunities for asylum in third countries, contemplating potential offers from Brazil and other nations willing to provide a safe haven.
This widespread expulsion has drawn significant criticism from human rights organizations.
Amnesty International's deputy regional director for South Asia condemned the Pakistani authorities for their treatment of Afghan refugees, asserting that it constitutes a violation of their rights, characterized by arbitrary decisions lacking transparency and accountability.
Advocacy groups are increasingly vocal about the risks these activists face, emphasizing the dire consequences of returning to a Taliban-dominated environment.
This situation arises within the context of Pakistan's recently intensified policy aimed at expelling millions of Afghan nationals following a notable decline in diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and a surge in militant attacks near the border.
The Pakistan government has labeled Afghan refugees as “terrorists” and “traitors,” alleging that they contribute to crime and instability within the country.
Since the commencement of these deportations in September 2023, nearly 845,000 Afghan nationals have reportedly been forcibly sent back to Afghanistan, where they are at significant risk of persecution by the ruling Taliban.
Among those threatened with deportation are 60 female activists and human rights defenders, who have fled Afghanistan to escape the Taliban's brutal repression of women's rights and their suppression of education and activism.
Many of these women are now living in hiding, particularly in urban areas such as Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where reports indicate police are conducting arbitrary arrests and demanding substantial bribes from Afghan migrants.
Humaira Alim, a woman’s rights and education advocate who fled Afghanistan in December 2022 due to escalating threats against her life from the Taliban, articulated her desperation to avoid returning to Afghanistan, stating that for her, repatriation would likely result in death.
Alim, who has been living in Islamabad with her two young children on a month-to-month visa, described her precarious existence as an “awful nightmare,” compounded by the constant threat of police harassment and the need to hide from authorities.
The Pakistan government has mandated that all undocumented Afghan nationals must depart by 31 March 2024 or face arrest.
Activists, including Alim, have sought additional time to explore opportunities for asylum in third countries, contemplating potential offers from Brazil and other nations willing to provide a safe haven.
This widespread expulsion has drawn significant criticism from human rights organizations.
Amnesty International's deputy regional director for South Asia condemned the Pakistani authorities for their treatment of Afghan refugees, asserting that it constitutes a violation of their rights, characterized by arbitrary decisions lacking transparency and accountability.
Advocacy groups are increasingly vocal about the risks these activists face, emphasizing the dire consequences of returning to a Taliban-dominated environment.
