USCIRF: Afghan Refugees Are Being Deported to Their Deaths
Tawazon – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed grave concern over the Pakistani government’s ongoing and accelerated repatriation of Afghan refugees to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
According to USCIRF, this is the latest phase of the repatriation process that began in October 2023. Since March 2025 alone, Pakistan has deported approximately 80,000 Afghans. Recently, the Pakistani government extended its deadline for undocumented Afghan nationals to leave the country until April 30, including those awaiting resettlement in the United States.
USCIRF Chair Abraham Cooper stated that the situation in Afghanistan remains dire for those who do not adhere to the Taliban’s extreme interpretation of Islam, including Christians, Shi’a Hazaras, Ahmadi Muslims, and Sikhs. He added that the commission is deeply concerned religious minorities face serious threats, particularly women and girls, who are vulnerable to retaliation by Taliban officials.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, tens of thousands of Afghans have fled due to persecution, the Commission noted.
USCIRF also highlighted that while the United States granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to some Afghans in 2022, it is now alarmed by the Department of Homeland Security’s decision not to extend TPS for Afghans residing in the U.S., which is set to expire on May 20.
In addition to those who fled, the Commission emphasized that the small number of religious minorities who remain in Afghanistan continue to practice their faith in secret due to fear of retaliation. Afghan Christians and other converts from Islam face particular danger, as the Taliban consider them apostates — a charge punishable by death.
The Shi’a Hazara community in Afghanistan also continues to suffer from ongoing violence and harassment at the hands of the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K).
