Trump Administration Plans Deportation of Over 150 Afghans Through Pakistan

The administration of United States President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to deport more than 150 Afghan immigrants to Afghanistan through Pakistan, a move that has raised concerns among advocacy groups over the safety of those facing removal.

The New York Times reported on Friday, citing three unnamed US officials, that the first deportation flight could leave as early as Monday. Among those expected to be affected are relatives of Afghans who assisted US forces before the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Pakistan to Facilitate Deportations

According to the report, the United States cannot arrange direct deportations to Afghanistan, so Pakistan is expected to oversee the immigrants' return across its border.

Pakistan has intensified its crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals as part of a wider repatriation policy that has forced millions of Afghans who fled their country to return.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have also deteriorated following repeated border clashes and accusations by Islamabad that Afghan territory is being used by militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban authorities have denied harbouring such groups.

Advocacy Groups Raise Safety Concerns

AfghanEvac, an organisation supporting former Afghan allies of the United States, warned that some of those facing deportation could be at risk of retaliation by the Taliban.

Its president, Shawn VanDiver, said some of the affected immigrants are relatives of people who served alongside US forces, making their families potentially vulnerable if returned to Afghanistan.

Although the Taliban announced a general amnesty after returning to power in 2021, the United Nations has documented reports of extrajudicial killings, detentions and other abuses involving former government and security personnel and their associates.

The US Department of Homeland Security had not responded to questions about the reported deportation plan, while Taliban authorities were also unavailable for comment.

US Immigration Crackdown

The reported plan comes amid the Trump administration's broader immigration restrictions, including travel bans affecting several countries and efforts to end deportation protections for some Afghans who entered the United States after the Taliban takeover.

AfghanEvac also criticised the timing of the planned removals, which could begin shortly before the US midterm elections scheduled for Tuesday.

AFP