Displaced International Urges Pakistan to Halt Deportation of At-Risk Afghan Journalists and Calls on Third Safe Countries to Expedite Resettlement Processing
Displaced International (DI) expresses grave concern over the continued deportation and harassment of Afghan journalists and other at-risk refugees in Pakistan, urging all parties to act in accordance with international humanitarian and refugee law. These individuals—many of whom fled persecution by the Taliban—have dedicated their lives to promoting truth, accountability, and the public’s right to information. Their forced return would not only endanger them personally but would also silence voices essential to Afghanistan’s future peace, stability, and reconstruction.
This appeal builds on DI’s consistent advocacy for the protection of displaced Afghans, including its recent statements “Border Violence Deepens Afghan Displacement Crisis” and “Afghanistan’s Six Interlocking Crises Demand Global Action”, as well as its July 2025 statement urging Pakistan to abandon the collective punishment of Afghan refugees. Building on these efforts, DI’s petition to halt the forcible deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan continues to rally global solidarity for a lawful, humane, and coordinated response to one of the most protracted refugee crises in the world.
Ambassador Ashraf Haidari, President of Displaced International, noted: “The Afghan people—among the world’s most long-suffering displaced populations—should not once again bear the consequences of regional rivalries and strategic miscalculations beyond their control. Pakistan has a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership by upholding international protection standards and reinforcing its reputation as a responsible regional actor.”
DI therefore urges the Government of Pakistan to immediately suspend all forced returns and extend the visas of Afghan journalists, human-rights defenders, and other vulnerable groups until durable protection or resettlement solutions are secured. DI further calls on third safe countries—including the United States, Canada, Australia, and all member states of the European Union—to accelerate resettlement processing for Afghans currently stranded in Pakistan and facing heightened risk.
At the same time, DI calls on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to strengthen coordination with Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior and the embassies of resettlement countries in Islamabad. UNHCR should actively engage to ensure protection against refoulement and access to legal assistance for all asylum seekers and registered refugees, while IOM should facilitate safe, voluntary, and dignified pathways for relocation and resettlement. Both agencies must also publicly reaffirm their opposition to any forced repatriations, consistent with their mandates and the 1951 Refugee Convention and UN General Assembly Resolution 73/195 on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
“Afghan journalists represent the last surviving voices of truth and accountability for a silenced nation,” Ambassador Haidari emphasized. “Their protection is not only a moral duty—it is a strategic investment in regional stability, freedom of expression, and the values that unite the international community.”
