February 11, 2026
Press Release
Lahore
At the 6th Asma Jahangir Conference 2026, a panel discussion on Pakistan’s deportation of Afghan refugees urged the government to review its policies and ensure that refugees’ rights are upheld in line with international commitments and agreements.
The session, titled No Land for Hope: Displaced People and Asylum Seekers, took place on the first day of the conference organised by the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell (AGHS) with support from the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) at Faletti’s Hotel, Lahore.
Moderated by Khushal Khan, member of the Central Organizing Committee of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), the panel included Barrister Aqeel Malik, Federal Minister of State for Law and Justice and Member of the National Assembly (PML-N); Shafi Jan, Special Assistant to the KP Chief Minister on Information; Philippa Candler, UNHCR Pakistan representative; Dr. Saba Gul Khattak, feminist researcher and coordinator at the Pakistan Humanitarian Observatory; and Muhammad Mudassar Javed, CEO of the Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid.
Khushal Khan opened the discussion by highlighting that over 1.15 million Afghan citizens were deported from Pakistan in 2025 alone, with thousands forced to leave without adequate time to manage their belongings or affairs. He emphasized that Pakistan cannot abdicate its responsibility towards Afghan refugees and pointed out that blaming Afghans for terrorism has now become the norm, yet a whole community cannot be accused of being terrorists especially because Afghans themselves are victims of terror.
Saba Gul Khattak voiced the concerns of Afghan refugees by sharing a quote from Afghan women who told her that they were trying to hide from the ‘rain but ended up finding themselves under a train’. She added that while gender apartheid in Afghanistan has been recognised, yet Pakistan is deporting Afghan women, especially those from marginalized communities like the Hazara, who are at a greater risk.
Muhammad Mudassar Javed noted that Pakistan hosted Afghan refugees for 46 years, but recent deportations have undone much of that effort. He said the international community has largely failed to support refugees. According to Javed, around 2 million Afghans have been deported by Pakistan since 2023, while 3 million have been deported by Iran, and over 20 million Afghans remain internally displaced.
Shafi Jan highlighted the role of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that when Afghan refugees were forced out of other provinces, they came to KP, where the provincial government is assisting returnees while safeguarding their dignity.
In her address, Phillipa Candler urged Pakistan to develop a system to integrate people born in the country and married to Pakistanis. She also called on Pakistan to give Afghan refugees more time before returning to Afghanistan, citing the country’s ongoing economic crisis and its inability to accommodate large numbers of people.
Responding to criticism, Barrister Aqeel Malik said that some Afghan citizens had entered Pakistan using photocopies of passports and tazkiras, which no country would accept. He emphasised that the government’s top priority is the safety and security of its citizens. He also warned that Afghan soil has been used against Pakistan, with banned terrorist organisations operating freely, a threat that cannot be ignored.
Malik added that Pakistan is cooperating with UNHCR on refugee matters, even though it was not a signatory, and is developing a new visa policy to allow Afghan citizens with businesses and property to enter legally.
The panel also called on the government to:
- Reconsider forced deportation policies and prevent harassment by authorities.
- Recognise and respect the principle of non-refoulement and uphold international humanitarian law.
- Address the heightened risks faced by Afghan women and girls under the Taliban.
The two day Asma Jahangir conference theme this year was Erosion of Fundamental Rights and Resistance Across Borders and the organizers of the conference expressed concern over the ongoing mistreatment, harassment, arrests, and forced expulsion of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. It urged the government to respect refugees’ rights and dignity and facilitate voluntary returns.