Following increasing pressure on Afghan refugees in Pakistan, a group of human rights and women’s rights activists met with members of Pakistan’s parliament, calling for an immediate halt to the ongoing forced deportations.
The meeting, which included Afghan women’s rights activists and Pakistani officials such as Hina Rabbani Khar, led to the presentation of a five-point proposal aimed at protecting the lives and dignity of Afghan migrants.
Activists warned that deporting women, journalists, and former military personnel back to Afghanistan could result in disastrous consequences. They called for facilitated visa processes, the provision of temporary residence, and improved coordination among international organizations to ensure basic services for refugees.
According to UNHCR, over 44,000 Afghan migrants have been forced to leave Pakistan in the past ten days alone. Fawzia Koofi, former member of Afghanistan’s Parliament and a member of the Republic’s negotiation team, was among the women’s rights activists attending the meeting.