UN Condemns Pakistan’s Deportation of Unaccompanied Afghan Minors, Citing Grave Rights Violations

ISLAMABAD – The United Nations has issued a stern condemnation of Pakistan’s forced deportation of three unaccompanied Afghan children, calling the action a dangerous breach of international law that places profoundly vulnerable refugees at immediate risk.

The controversy centers on the expulsion of the three minors, who were deported without the presence of guardians or access to legal representation or asylum procedures. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan confirmed the incident, stating the children were expelled “without proper safeguards or consideration for their extreme vulnerability.”

In a strongly-worded statement released on Tuesday, the UNHCR called on Pakistani authorities to immediately halt such practices and to uphold its protection obligations towards all individuals at risk, particularly unaccompanied minors. “The principle of non-refoulement—the cornerstone of international refugee law—is not negotiable,” a UNHCR spokesperson emphasized. “Forcing children, who are alone and defenseless, back into a country facing a severe humanitarian crisis is unconscionable and violates fundamental humanitarian principles.”

A Broader Crackdown Amidst Rising Tensions

This specific case is not isolated but part of a wider, accelerated deportation campaign targeting the estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans in Pakistan. The Pakistani government initiated the crackdown last November, citing security concerns and economic pressures. The drive has intensified recently amid rising border tensions with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan and a series of devastating suicide attacks within Pakistan, which authorities have blamed on militants operating from Afghan soil.

Human rights groups report a dramatic increase in arrests, detentions, and forced returns. Camps and settlements housing Afghan refugees have been dismantled, with families given little notice before being transported to the border. While the government frames this as a necessary measure for national security, aid organizations warn it is creating a massive human rights crisis.

“A Death Sentence”: The Plight of Returnees

For those deported, the return to Afghanistan is often described as a crisis within a crisis. The country is grappling with one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies, with widespread famine, a collapsed healthcare system, and a Taliban regime that has systematically eroded human rights, particularly for women and girls.

“Deporting unaccompanied children to this environment is akin to issuing a death sentence,” said a representative from the Human Rights Watch office in the region. “These children have no family, no shelter, and no means of support. They are exposed to extreme risks, including exploitation, forced labor, and recruitment by armed groups. Pakistan is willfully ignoring these dire consequences.”

The international community has echoed these alarms, with multiple global human rights organizations documenting a spike in rights violations linked to the deportations. There are growing fears that Pakistan’s actions could set a dangerous precedent, encouraging other host nations to circumvent their international obligations towards refugees.

Calls for a Humane and Cooperative Path Forward

In light of these developments, the UN and other agencies are urgently appealing for a pause in the deportations and a return to a cooperative framework. They stress that a unilateral, forced return policy exacerbates human suffering and regional instability without addressing the root causes of the refugee situation.

“Instead of forced expulsions, what is needed is a coordinated international response that supports both the host countries and the refugees,” stated a UN humanitarian official. “This includes increased aid, resettlement opportunities for the most vulnerable, and sustained dialogue with de facto authorities in Afghanistan to improve conditions.”

Experts warn that the current trajectory risks escalating into a full-blown regional crisis, further destabilizing an already volatile area. They argue that only through cooperation between Pakistan, international organizations, and donor nations can a sustainable and humane solution for Afghan refugees be found—one that protects both national security interests and the fundamental rights of those fleeing persecution and despair.

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