Taliban Consul condemns deportations of Afghan migrants from Pakistan without belongings

(PAKISTAN) The Taliban Consul in Pakistan says Afghan migrants are being forced out in large numbers and, in many cases, face deportation without belongings. Abdul Jabar Takhari, the Taliban’s senior consul in Pakistan, stated on October 24, 2025, that many Afghans are being expelled without time to retrieve personal items, including documents, cash, and household goods.

His account matches reports by human rights groups that have tracked the mass removals since late 2023, as Pakistan’s crackdown on Afghans has grown through 2024 and into 2025. Rights monitors, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented forced evictions, confiscation of property, and lack of due process.

Key allegations and legal concerns

• Reports describe arbitrary detentions, police harassment, and allegations that bribes were demanded for release or to prevent expulsion.
• Multiple sources say some removals ignore legal status, meaning even Afghans with documentation issued by the UN refugee agency have faced relocation or return to Afghanistan.
• Rights groups argue this pattern risks breaching the international rule of non-refoulement, which bars sending people back to a place where they may face persecution.

“Deportation without belongings” — the consul’s claim — adds fresh pressure to Pakistan’s handling of the process and raises questions about the fate of property left behind by families who lived in the country for years.

Scale of returns and immediate effects

• Humanitarian organizations cite figures showing at least 844,499 Afghan nationals were returned between September 2023 and February 2025, with removals continuing into late 2025.
• Many migrants report leaving homes, shops, tools, and school materials behind, sometimes with only hours of notice.
• For families who arrived decades ago, this often meant losing a lifetime of savings.

Policy drivers and official framing

Pakistan’s leadership has framed the crackdown as driven by:

• Security concerns
• Economic strain
• A desire to pressure the Taliban authorities in Kabul

Officials present the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” as a rule-of-law effort, implemented through executive measures and deadlines for people to leave major cities such as Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Critics — lawyers and rights groups — say these steps often lack clear legal basis and due process, leaving families unsure of options and afraid to seek help.

The Ministry of Interior oversees enforcement of migration and security policy. For official statements and notices, readers can consult the Government of Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior:

UN officials and advocates argue that returns must follow international standards. They warn that broad sweeps risk capturing:

• People with claims to protection
• Long-term residents with deep ties
• Individuals who cannot safely return

On-the-ground impact and human cost

Accounts compiled by human rights organizations describe buses and trucks collecting people from neighborhoods, markets, and workplaces. Families say police gave little time to pack, leading to deportation without belongings and, in some cases, confiscation of property.

Reported impacts include:

• Forced evictions from rented homes and informal settlements
• Seizure of phones or cash
• Abandonment of furniture, tools, or shop stock
• Withdrawal of children from schools
• Loss of access to clinics and community networks
• Business closures with outstanding debts and no chance to settle accounts

Those with UNHCR-issued documents or Afghan Citizen Cards reported confusion about whether their papers still provided protection. Several groups reported detentions where release required payment, contributing to a climate of fear that discourages seeking legal recourse.

Humanitarian strain and seasonal risks

Analysis by VisaVerge.com and aid agencies notes that the scale and speed of returns have strained humanitarian support in Afghanistan. Returnees need:

• Housing
• Jobs
• Schooling for children

Aid agencies describe long lines at entry points, with many arriving with few or no personal items. With winter approaching in parts of the region in late 2025, aid groups warn that lack of shelter and supplies could heighten risk for families.

Legal safeguards and rights organizations’ demands

International law does not ban removals outright but requires safeguards, such as:

1. Assessing each case individually
2. Allowing time to gather belongings and documents
3. Ensuring people are not returned to danger

Human rights groups say these safeguards are often missing, pointing to reported denial of time to collect key documents — identity papers and school records — which can trap families in a cycle of lost status and limited access to services upon return.

Rights organizations have called for:

• Suspension of mass removals until screening systems operate predictably
• Availability of appeals and enforcement of safeguards against refoulement
• Access to lawyers, case reviews, and clear notices before removal
• Cooperation with humanitarian agencies so families can collect possessions, obtain travel documents, and plan safe transit

UN experts have echoed these calls, urging Pakistan to ensure proper procedures and coordination with humanitarian actors.

Practical measures to reduce harm

Rights monitors and advocates recommend practical steps that could reduce harm and improve transparency:

• Provide written notices in languages people understand
• Allow set periods (e.g., several days) to pack belongings
• Set up complaint desks monitored by independent observers
• Give clear instructions for those with valid documents
• Use inventory forms for seized items and issue receipts for any property taken into custody

These measures require resources but could reduce conflict at the community level and limit loss and abuse.

Legal and civic oversight

Pakistan’s courts and legal community may play a role by reviewing executive actions tied to the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. Possible actions include:

• Legal petitions testing compliance with domestic law and international duties
• Public reporting by government, rights monitors, and the media to track numbers and practices

Advocates stress the goal is not to block all removals, but to end deportation without belongings and ensure fair procedures.

Practical advice for Afghan migrants in Pakistan

Community leaders advise people still in Pakistan to take steps that may help protect papers and possessions during sudden moves:

• Keep key documents in a ready bag and make copies
• Share contact details with trusted relatives
• Note case numbers if stopped by police
• Ask for receipts for any items taken

These measures cannot solve systemic policy issues but may help individuals preserve identity papers and school records.

Diplomatic tensions and the path forward

The consul’s statement has sharpened diplomatic tensions. Taliban officials publicly condemn the deportations, while Pakistan cites security concerns linked to cross-border militancy and recent attacks. Both sides trade blame, and Afghan migrants remain caught between policies and politics.

With more than 844,000 returns recorded through February 2025 and operations ongoing, rights groups say procedures must shift from rushed, forceful removals to orderly departures that allow people to collect basic belongings. VisaVerge.com reports that international pressure is likely to continue, especially where removals appear to breach non-refoulement or target people despite valid documentation.

The core question remains: can procedures be reformed so that movement across a border does not mean the loss of a home, a toolkit, a child’s schoolbag, or the records that prove who you are?