Despite Australia’s assurance, Afghans hiding in Pakistan like Ahmad fear deportation


Key Points
  • More than 60,000 Afghan nationals were expelled from Pakistan in the past two weeks.
  • The Afghan refugees in Pakistan who are awaiting the results of their application for humanitarian visas are concerned about deportation.
  • A spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs told SBS that the government has allocated 26,5000 places in its humanitarian program.
  • Amnesty International Australia is calling for urgent action to protect at-risk Afghans facing deportation from Pakistan.
More than 60,000 Afghan nationals were expelled from Pakistan in the past two weeks and the second phase of Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) could impact a further 1.6 million, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
All Afghan nationals who have no legal documents to stay or those holding Afghan Citizen Cards have been warned by Islamabad to return home or face deportation.

At risk are many Afghan refugees in Pakistan who fled the Taliban but are still awaiting the results of their application for humanitarian visas to Australia.

‘We’re not safe’

Former journalist and human rights activist Rehman* is one of them.
He fled Taliban threats and has been living in Pakistan since 2022, during which time he applied for an Australian Humanitarian visa.

“Pakistani police have started arresting those who do not have a visa,” Rehman said.

Rehman fled Taliban threats and has been living in Pakistan since 2022. Credit: Supplied by Rehman

As he does not have a valid Pakistani visa, he is concerned about his future if deported to Afghanistan.

“After the fall of the republic [in Afghanistan], many people, including myself — those who worked for freedom of speech, women’s rights, human rights and peace — faced danger and were forced to leave the country,” he said.
“Since the beginning of April, those without a valid Pakistani visa have faced the threat of deportation. People are being arrested by the police and sent back to Afghanistan, which puts my life and the lives of others who have worked for human rights and freedom of expression at serious risk.”

Telling SBS Pashto that “we’re not safe”, Rehman called on the Australian government to expedite processing of their visa applications.

‘Police do not accept it’

As stated on the Department of Home Affairs home page, “the Australian government is sending letters of assurance” to people who hold an Australian visa, have applied for a humanitarian visa which is close to being finalised or for a family or partner visa, or are certified Afghan Locally Engaged Employees.

SBS Pashto has seen these ‘letters of assurance’ received by some applicants from the Australian High Commission requesting the cooperation of Pakistan authorities to ensure that the holder is not deported or detained.

Letter of Assurance.jpg

A letter of assurance from the Australian High Commission. Credit: Supplied

Despite receiving one of the letters, Ahmad said applicants continued to face difficulties in Pakistan and could be deported to Afghanistan.

“The assurance letter which we received from the Australian embassy has no contact number or barcode, it just has an email address and [Pakistani] police do not accept it,” he said.
“We are facing economic, security and social issues [here in Pakistan]. Our children are falling behind in their educations and lack access to any meaningful activities.”

“They [Pakistan authorities] hand these people over to the Taliban along with a list of their names. For example, they hand more than 300 or 400 people along with a list of their names to the Taliban. When they hand these over, the main and fundamental problems begin there.”

Ahmad.jpg

Ahmad said Pakistani police do not accept the letter of assurance issued by the Australian embassy in Pakistan. Credit: Supplied by Ahmad

‘They are asking for help’

Sydney-based women rights activist Maryam Zahid Popal said she had “personally received heartbreaking videos and messages” which show “Afghan women and children being beaten and humiliated”.
She said the latest round of deportations had “intensified fear, uncertainty, and despair in these communities.”
“I am deeply concerned about the safety and wellbeing of Afghans at risk in Pakistan, particularly women and children. Many fled unimaginable trauma under the Taliban regime and have been living in legal limbo in Pakistan, holding on to hope for resettlement,” she said.
“Over the past weeks, I’ve received a growing number of calls, emails and messages from Afghan women in Pakistan. Some are single mothers, activists, students or former professionals now facing arrest or deportation.

“They are asking for help — for safety, dignity and someone to hear them. It is heartbreaking to see their resilience met with silence.”

Under the Taliban, women face severe restrictions on education, employment and freedom of movement.
Popal said that if the Afghan women and girls were “forced to return to Afghanistan, the consequences could be devastating” and they would face the real risk of “ imprisonment, persecution and even death”.
“I have personally reached out to the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs, but unfortunately, I have not received any support or meaningful response to assist these women,” she said.

“My request to the Australian government is urgent and clear: Increase the humanitarian intake for at-risk Afghans, especially women and girls, fast-track existing visa applications currently caught in bureaucratic delays, and collaborate with international partners to ensure safe and legal protection pathways from countries like Pakistan and Iran.”

Maryam Zahid Popal

Sydney-based women rights activist, Maryam Zahid Popal. Source: SBS / SBS Pashto

A spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs told SBS that the government had allocated 26,5000 places in its humanitarian program.

“The total number of places available to Afghan nationals under the Humanitarian Program is 26,500 over the program years from 2021-22 to 2025-26,” the spokesperson said.

Between 15 August 2021 and 30 June 2024, Australia granted 19,787 humanitarian visas to Afghan citizens.

‘Urgent action to protect at-risk Afghans’

Amnesty International has expressed serious concerns over Pakistan’s deportation of Afghan refugees, warning that the current wave of deportation “gravely threatens the lives and rights” of those forced to return to Afghanistan.
The organisation highlighted that “journalists, human rights defenders, artists, athletes, ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, women and children” face particularly severe danger if returned to Afghanistan.

“Women and children remain particularly vulnerable, especially in light of the Taliban’s ongoing crackdown on women’s rights to education, participate in public life and other basic fundamental freedoms and rights,” the organisation said.

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Credit: Amnesty International

“Amnesty International Australia particularly urges the incoming government to expand the humanitarian program by increasing the annual intake to 30,000 places, with 20,000 dedicated places for Afghan refugees, in addition to Australia’s existing humanitarian intake, to be provided over four years starting from 2026.”

“The Australian Government must uphold its moral and legal obligations to protect those fleeing persecution, particularly women, journalists, activists, and other minorities including LGBTQIA+ individuals targeted by the Taliban. Faster processing and fast-tracking applications can allow Afghans protection and safety sooner.”



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