Afghan women urge Pakistan not to deport post-Taliban migrants

By Tahir Khan

ISLAMABAD: An Afghan women delegation has held meetings with Pakistani officials in Islamabad, urging them not to deport those Afghans who have worked during the previous governments and arrived in Pakistan after the Taliban takeover.

Pakistani officials say that nearly 700,000 Afghans have arrived in Pakistan after the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021. They include former members of parliament, officials, political and rights activists and journalists.

Majority of them have applied for resettlement in other countries including the United States but the process is very slow.

In February, the Trump administration suspended immigration requests from countries that also include Afghanistan.

In a new development the Trump administration has decided to end temporary protections for more than 10,000 people from Afghanistan and Cameroon, putting them on track for deportation in May and June, Department of Homeland Security officials said on Friday, according to New York Times.

State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said on April 10 that thousands of Afghans, who are awaiting resettlement to Western countries, will be deported if they were not relocated by April 30.

Pakistan has accelerated the repatriation and deportation of Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC) holders, whose deadline to leave Pakistan voluntarily expired on March 31.

Former member of Afghan parliament Fawzia Koofi led a 10-member delegation in a week-long visit to Pakistan and met officials and Islamabad-based diplomats.

The delegation was composed of representatives of 15 organizations, including human rights activists, women’s rights movements and defenders, journalists, former military personnel, and refugee shuras, council representatives.

Besides meetings with Pakistani officials and diplomats, they also held a consultative meeting on April 6, 2025 in Islamabad, organized by Women for Afghanistan (WFA).

The Geneva-based Women for Afghanistan” (WFA) is a nonprofit organization that operates under Swiss law, according to its website. This was established with an “unwavering commitment to the Afghan people, particularly women, WFA is dedicated to amplifying their voices on the global stage.”

“As you are aware, many of us human rights activists, women’s rights defenders, journalists, and former military personnel are facing unprecedented security issues in Afghanistan due to ongoing political and social situation. Now, in exile in Pakistan, we are confronted with the threat of deportation and an uncertain future,” the delegation said in a document presented to Pakistani officials.

The delegation met Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq and were invited to a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, presided over by its Chairperson Hina Rabbani Khar on April 7.

“The situation (in Afghanistan) remains precarious, and our community continues to face vulnerabilities. Therefore, through this letter, we wish to formally request the cooperation of both the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations in addressing our urgent needs and securing our safety and well-being,” this was stated in the document shared with the Pakistani side.

They also demanded meaningful participation and inclusion in political processes concerning Afghanistan as many of those who have sought refuge in Pakistan since 2021 played a role in their country’s progress and were part of Afghanistan’s democratic system.

Pressure builds on Afghans fearing arrest in Pakistan

The delegation demanded that a collective list of former military personnel, human rights activists, at-risk women, and journalists registered with the United Nations should be distinguished, and their forced deportation should be prevented.

“Many of us have sought refuge in Pakistan due to life-threatening risks. Returning to Afghanistan, especially for human rights activists and women, poses danger to our lives,” the said, requesting the Government of Pakistan to adopt an approach and ensure that such people’s lives are safe.

“By deporting them to Afghanistan, they will be at risk of arbitrary detention, forced disappearance and targeted killings,” the delegates further said.

Pakistan’s visa policy

The Afghan delegation also urged the Government of Pakistan to revise the visa renewal system for those at-risk individuals whose visas have expired, as the current monthly renewal process creates uncertainty and hardship.

“We request that the renewal process for at-risk individuals be extended to a minimum duration of six months or more to provide stability and security.  In cases of delays or difficulties in visa issuance, we propose the establishment of a designated area or settlement for the temporary residence of these individuals. This would help prevent forced deportations, reduce displacement, and enable more effective monitoring, support, and assistance,” ,” according to the document.

The delegates also requested Pakistan, in coordination with the United Nations and international organizations, to provide immediate support for individuals at risk and to work closely with countries that have committed to the final resettlement of at-risk Afghans in order to expedite their relocation.

Legal services

The delegates suggested establishment of a designated institution in Pakistan to provide legal services for refugees and exiled Afghans. “This would allow individuals facing any issues to seek assistance and have their problems resolved through legal means.”

They said they consider Pakistan as a temporary and safe shelter and will not contribute to any threat or instability to the political system.