Amnesty International letter has urged Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to immediately stop the deportation of Afghan refugees, citing violations of international law under the ongoing Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.
Amnesty International sent an open letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on 1 January 2026, calling for an immediate halt to the deportation of Afghan refugees. The rights group described the actions under Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan as unlawful, noting violations of the principle of non-refoulement. This principle prohibits returning individuals to places where they face persecution or harm. The letter, authored by Secretary General Agnes Callamard, arrived amid the plan’s third phase, which targets undocumented Afghans.
The Amnesty International letter to Pakistan PM highlights a critical human rights issue in South Asia, where millions of Afghan refugees have sought shelter in Pakistan since the 1970s. With Afghanistan still facing instability under Taliban rule, forced returns risk exacerbating regional humanitarian crises, straining bilateral ties between Islamabad and Kabul, and overwhelming aid resources in border areas.
Amnesty Letter Shehbaz Sharif: Key Demands
In the Amnesty letter Shehbaz Sharif received, Callamard emphasised Pakistan’s historical role as a host to over 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees and an estimated 880,000 Afghan Citizen Card holders. However, the letter criticised the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan for lacking transparency and due process. “Amnesty International has documented a complete lack of transparency, due process and accountability in the unlawful arrests, detentions and deportations of Afghan nationals in Pakistan,” the letter stated.
The document urged the government to create accessible registration pathways for refugees. It specifically called for prioritising at-risk groups, including women, girls, journalists, ethnic minorities, and those facing barriers due to gender, disability or language. Without such measures, the Amnesty letter Shehbaz Sharif warned, deportations could lead to widespread human rights abuses.
Amnesty’s concerns stem from reports of harassment and arbitrary detentions since the plan’s launch. In April 2025, Amnesty released a detailed report titled ‘Treat Us Like Human Beings’, which documented cases of police extortion, property confiscation and forced evictions targeting Afghans. The report noted that many deportees faced uncertain fates in Afghanistan, where economic collapse and restrictions on women have deepened vulnerabilities.
Afghans Refoulement Pakistan: Violations Highlighted
The principle of non-refoulement is central to the Afghans refoulement Pakistan debate raised in the Amnesty International letter to Pakistan PM. Under international customary law, states cannot expel refugees to territories where their life or freedom would be threatened. Pakistan, though not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, has long upheld this norm through practice.
Yet, the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan has led to mass deportations. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees data indicates that over 1 million Afghans returned from Pakistan between September 2023 and May 2025, many under duress. The Afghans refoulement Pakistan issue has drawn criticism from bodies like the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which in August 2025 warned of looming deportations violating human rights.
Amnesty’s letter pointed to specific phases of the plan. The first phase, starting November 2023, targeted undocumented foreigners. The second extended to Afghan Citizen Card holders, with a deadline of 31 March 2025. Now in its final phase, the plan affects Proof of Registration card holders. Reports from Médecins Sans Frontières describe deportees arriving in Afghanistan during harsh winters, facing health crises without adequate support.
Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan: Government Perspective
Pakistan’s government announced the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan on 3 October 2023, aiming to repatriate undocumented foreigners amid security and economic concerns. Official statements cite the need to regulate migration, with estimates of 1.7 million undocumented Afghans at the plan’s outset.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stated on 19 February 2025: “We have noted the remarks made by the Afghan Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad about Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. His comments are unfortunate and unwarranted.” The government denied allegations of harassment, asserting that returns are voluntary or enforced legally.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on Afghan refugees repatriation on 17 October 2025, as per the Prime Minister’s Office. Discussions focused on implementation, though details remain limited. Government data shows PKR 500 million allocated for border management in fiscal year 2025-2026.
The plan has strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. Kabul has accused Islamabad of mass expulsions, while Pakistan maintains the policy addresses illegal stays. Regional experts note that economic pressures, including remittances from Afghans, complicate the issue.
Background
Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion in 1979, peaking at over 3 million in the 1980s. Post-2001 US-led intervention saw further influxes. By 2023, registered refugees numbered 1.3 million, with many integrated into society. The Taliban’s 2021 takeover prompted new arrivals, but Pakistan’s policy shifted due to security threats and economic strain.
The Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan emerged amid rising anti-migrant sentiment. Initial announcements targeted all undocumented foreigners, but Afghans bore the brunt. Amnesty International’s earlier interventions, including a December 2022 letter on refugee safety, foreshadowed the current Amnesty International letter to Pakistan PM.
International aid has supported returns, with UNHCR facilitating voluntary repatriations. However, forced deportations have overwhelmed Afghan border facilities, leading to calls for bilateral agreements.
What’s Next
As the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan advances, observers anticipate potential extensions or pauses. The Amnesty International letter to Pakistan PM could prompt diplomatic engagements, including with the United Nations. Pakistan may face increased scrutiny at forums like the Human Rights Council. Forward-looking, the government could establish registration mechanisms as urged, potentially easing Afghans refoulement Pakistan tensions.
The Amnesty International letter to Pakistan PM underscores the need for humane policies. Without action, deportations risk destabilising South Asia further.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, January 10th, 2026
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