Amnesty International has called for the immediate suspension of forced returns and deportations of migrants and asylum seekers to Afghanistan under Taliban rule, warning that such actions place the lives and safety of millions of people-particularly women and children-at serious risk.

According to Ansar Press, Amnesty International stated that based on the latest United Nations report, Iran and Pakistan alone forcibly and unlawfully deported more than 2.6 million Afghan nationals in 2025. Approximately 60 percent of those deported were women and children. In addition, thousands of Afghans have also been deported from countries such as Turkey and Tajikistan.

The organization noted that Pakistan has intensified the deportation of Afghan refugees following recent border clashes with the Taliban. In Iran, mass deportations increased after the 12-day war in June 2025, with more than 900,000 Afghans unlawfully expelled in just three months following the conflict. The total number of Afghans deported from Iran between January and October 2025 has reached approximately 1.6 million.

Amnesty International stressed that these developments come at a time when the Taliban have escalated their systematic attacks on human rights, with devastating consequences-particularly for women and girls. Afghanistan is also facing a deepening humanitarian crisis, further aggravated by recent natural disasters.

The organization warned that forcibly returning Afghans under these conditions significantly increases the real risk of torture, arbitrary detention, violence, and other grave human rights violations. Amnesty reiterated that the binding principle of non-refoulement under international law prohibits states from returning individuals to countries where they face a serious risk of human rights abuses.

The Amnesty International statement was issued amid increased efforts by European countries and the United States to deport Afghans. The UK government announced last month sweeping changes to its asylum policies, including accelerated deportations and restrictions on human rights protections. The European Union also adopted strict migration law reforms in April 2024, which are set to be fully implemented between 2026 and 2027.

Amnesty International further referred to reports indicating that some European countries, including Germany and Austria, are negotiating with Taliban authorities to facilitate the forced return of Afghans. In the United States, the Trump administration, through new executive orders, has paved the way for mass deportations of undocumented migrants, while the U.S. State Department has announced the suspension of Afghan immigration case processing and visa issuance for Afghan passport holders.

Smriti Singh, Amnesty International`s Regional Director for South Asia, highlighted Afghanistan`s dire situation, noting that more than 22 million people-nearly half of the country`s population-require humanitarian assistance. She stated:

"The rush to forcibly return people to Afghanistan ignores the reasons they fled and the serious dangers they face upon return. It constitutes a clear violation of states` international obligations."

Amnesty International, citing interviews with returned refugees, emphasized that women and girls, former government employees, ex-security personnel, journalists, and human rights defenders continue to face retaliation, arbitrary detention, torture, and even extrajudicial killings by the Taliban.

The organization concluded by urging all countries to immediately halt forced returns of Afghans, uphold their legal obligations, and expand safe and rapid resettlement pathways-particularly for individuals at heightened risk.