UN urges Pakistan to halt forced returns of Afghans

FORCED RETURN / REFUGEE PROTECTION

Date: 2026-09-01
Status: RETURNS ONGOING · UN CALLS FOR PROTECTION EXEMPTIONS
Aid Zone: ASIA
Countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan
Agency: UNHCR / Government of Pakistan
Last verified: 2026-09-01

Situation

The UN refugee agency is urging Pakistan to halt forced returns of Afghans who face continuing protection risks and to ensure that any return to Afghanistan is voluntary, safe and dignified. Pakistan's Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan remains in operation; no nationwide suspension has been announced. UNHCR has raised particular concern for women and girls, refugees and asylum-seekers, people with medical needs, students, mixed-nationality families and others who could face persecution or serious harm after return. Pakistan says people without valid immigration documents are subject to its immigration laws and that repatriation is being implemented as a sovereign policy. The humanitarian concern is the speed and scale of movement into Afghanistan, where housing, livelihoods, health care and other basic services are already under severe pressure. UNHCR data recorded about 616,600 returns from Pakistan to Afghanistan during 2026 by 18 July, including voluntary repatriation, deportations and other returns. Separate reporting citing UNHCR said about 2.56 million Afghans had returned from Pakistan since the repatriation plan began in November 2023, including around 260,000 deportations. Pakistani courts have temporarily stopped arrest or deportation in a limited number of individual cases involving pending asylum or resettlement claims and serious medical needs. Those orders protect named petitioners; they do not amount to a national halt. This report will be updated if Pakistan changes the national policy or if UNHCR publishes revised return totals.

Verified figures

Returns from Pakistan to Afghanistan in 2026: Approximately 616,600 by 18 July · UNHCR
Afghans returned from Pakistan since November 2023: Approximately 2.56 million · figure reported in July 2026
Deportations included in returns since November 2023: Approximately 260,000 · figure reported in July 2026
National suspension announced: No
Court protections: Limited to named petitioners and individual cases
UNHCR protection position: Returns must be voluntary, safe and dignified; people at continuing risk should be exempt from involuntary return

Provenance

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