Afghan Women Activists Face Deportation from Pakistan Amid Taliban Threats

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Over 50 prominent Afghan women’s rights activists residing in Pakistan are at risk of deportation, facing potential imprisonment or death if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The Pakistan government has pledged to deport millions of Afghan nationals as relations deteriorate and militant attacks rise, labeling them as "terrorists" and "traitors" (The Guardian, 2025).

Since September 2023, Pakistani authorities have forcibly returned at least 844,499 Afghans, according to Amnesty International, raising serious concerns about their safety. Among those currently in hiding are activists like Humaira Alim, who fled Afghanistan after receiving death threats for her advocacy work. “If they send me back to Afghanistan, it only means death,” Alim stated, fearing Taliban retaliation.

This mass deportation has been condemned by human rights groups, including Avaaz, which described the action as a “death sentence” for these individuals. The Pakistani government has set a deadline of March 31 for undocumented Afghans to leave the country or face arrest, prompting activists to seek asylum in third countries for their safety.

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