Pakistan’s mass expulsion of Afghans puts writers, journalists and human rights defenders at grave risk

By A Representative

The government of Pakistan is facing urgent calls from international organisations to immediately halt the ongoing mass expulsion of Afghan nationals, amid mounting concerns that the policy endangers the lives of thousands, including writers, journalists, artists and human rights defenders who are at risk of persecution by the Taliban. The move, known officially as the ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’, was first announced on 3 October 2023 and has since triggered widespread alarm among human rights bodies and UN agencies.

Despite repeated warnings from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the Pakistani authorities have stepped up their deportation campaign. In April 2025 alone, over 30,000 Afghans were forcibly returned, a figure that underscores the speed and scale of the operation. These deportations are being carried out in violation of Pakistan’s international human rights obligations, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to a country where they face serious threats to life or freedom.

Many of those being deported include individuals who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control in August 2021. Among them are journalists, artists and human rights activists who continue to face the threat of arbitrary arrest, torture and imprisonment for their expression of dissent or promotion of fundamental freedoms. UN experts have highlighted that deported Afghan women and girls face extreme repression under the Taliban regime—describing their treatment as a form of “gender apartheid”.

As humanitarian visa pathways remain largely suspended and international support for resettlement weakens—particularly from the US, UK and Germany—many Afghans who had sought temporary refuge in Pakistan now find themselves stranded in precarious and unsafe conditions. The Pakistani authorities’ campaign has also led to mass arrests, harassment and intimidation of Afghan communities, deepening the climate of fear and insecurity for over a million Afghan refugees and asylum seekers still residing in the country.

In a joint statement issued on 28 May 2025, a coalition of international organisations condemned the deportations and called on Pakistan to immediately suspend its repatriation plan. They also urged the international community to provide urgent and safe pathways for at-risk Afghans to seek asylum and rebuild their lives in safety. The undersigned organisations include PEN International, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Free Press Unlimited, Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), Index on Censorship, and others committed to defending free expression and human rights.

Signed: Afghan Journalists in Exile in North America and Europe (AJE); Artists at Risk Connection (ARC); Committee to Protect Journalists; Free Press Unlimited; Front Line Defenders; Index on Censorship; International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN); NAI Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan (NAI-SOMA); PEN Afghanistan; PEN America; PEN Germany; PEN International; PEN Norway; Reporters Without Borders (RSF); The International Association of Women in Radio & Television (IAWRT).

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Search This Blog