JAC opens Islamabad chapter as Pakistan’s Afghan refugee crisis worsens

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Afghan Refugees launched its Islamabad chapter on Wednesday, urging the Pakistani government to reconsider its mass deportation policy. The announcement was made at a press conference at the National Press Club, where political leaders, rights activists, and civil society members gathered to highlight concerns over the ongoing forced repatriations.

Riaz Ahmed, a JAC member, said authorities plan to expel 2 million Afghan refugees this year after deporting 850,000 in 2023. "We are trying to highlight the humanitarian crisis happening in Pakistan," he told Nukta. He claimed that while the UNHCR has established voluntary repatriation centers, many Afghans are being forcibly put on trucks and buses and sent back. "UNHCR is not even looking at that," he added.

Political concerns over forced deportations

Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Farhat Ullah Babar criticized the policy. "I am amazed that we are forcefully sending back people whom we sheltered for the last 50 years," he said. He accused the government of using Afghan refugees for political leverage. "Every country has a right to deport illegal immigrants, but there is a process. A grand international conference in Islamabad should be held to find a solution."

Afrasiab Khattak, a senior politician from the National Democratic Movement, outlined three key principles of refugee repatriation: it should be voluntary, return conditions should be safe, and third-country resettlement should be considered if return is not possible. He noted that many Afghan refugees were born in Pakistan and should be granted citizenship.

He also accused authorities of targeting only the poor. "Taliban leaders killed in US drone strikes were found with Pakistani passports. Pakistan wants to deport ordinary Afghans while Afghan jihadi leaders own palaces here, just like Pakistan’s elite," he said.

A long history of political use

Women Democratic Front President Ismat Raza Shahjahan said Pakistan had used Afghan refugees as a tool since the Cold War. "Pakistan brought Afghans here, trained them, and sent them back for Jihad. Now, after the Doha Agreement, the Taliban are back in power and not listening to Pakistan, so the government is trying to twist their arm by expelling refugees," she argued.

She added that 70% of refugees are women and children. "They were born here, their schools and businesses are here, and now they are told to leave in six days. The government must reconsider its decision and opt for diplomatic solutions instead."

Refugees in distress

Local Afghan leader Haji Raz Muhammad, who has lived in Pakistan since he was 17, said many refugees are struggling with mental stress. "My granddaughter is 19. She has never seen Afghanistan. My children and grandchildren know only Pakistan. Even our Pakistani friends do not support this decision," he said.

Nazeef Lala, a senior member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, alleged that Pakistan had accepted billions in foreign aid for Afghan refugees but was now deporting them because the aid had stopped. "Pakistan must hold an international conference to address this issue," he said.

Legal concerns over deportations

Advocate Umar Ejaz Gillani argued that Pakistan’s Constitution protects all individuals within its borders. "Under Article 4, whether someone is a Pakistani citizen or not, they must be treated according to the law," he said.

He cited rulings from the Islamabad and Sindh High Courts, which state that refugees cannot be deported to countries where their lives or freedoms are at risk. "Many Afghan women and ethnic minorities fear persecution upon return. Those born in Pakistan should be granted citizenship," he added.

As deportations continue, pressure is mounting on the government to reassess its policies and engage with international stakeholders to find a sustainable solution.