As Pakistan's November 1 deadline for illegal immigrants approaches, Amnesty International and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called Pakistan's decision a violation of human rights.

These two organizations in separate statements asked the Pakistani government to reconsider its decision to deport Afghan immigrants from this country.

“There are more than two million undocumented Afghans living in Pakistan, at least 600,000 of whom left Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. We believe many of those facing deportation will be at grave risk of human rights violations if returned to Afghanistan, including arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, cruel and other inhuman treatment,” Ravina Shamdasani spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said.

“More than 1.4 million undocumented Afghan refugees are at imminent risk of deportation from Pakistan after the government of Pakistan imposed the deadline of 1 Nov for the refugees to leave the country. This is a violation of their human rights and raises serious concerns regarding their safety, welfare, and access to basic services,” Amnesty International said on X.

Meanwhile, Malala Yousfzai, Pakistani activist for female education and Nobel Peace Prize winner, said that Afghan refugees deserve support, dignity, and safety, not further obstacles and harassment.

“Afghan refugees — children, women, men, elderly — fleeing Taliban persecution deserve support, dignity, and safety, not further obstacles and harassment. I echo UN experts’ call and urge the Pakistani government to reconsider its rushed policy of mass deportation,” Malala Yousfzai said on X.

However, Pakistan’s Caretaker Provincial Information Minister John Achakzai, said that this country is determined in its decision to deport illegal immigrants and after the deadline, they will deport illegal immigrants from Pakistan without exception.

"In this regard, no irrational or unreasonable requests will be accepted. Some people want an exception to be placed on Afghanistan's Chaman and Spin Boldak, which is impossible now. No opportunity will be provided for professional criminals and terrorists to benefit from it. After the end of the deadline, all institutions will start the process of deporting illegal immigrants,” Achakzai said.

Concerned about the approaching deadline, several of the Afghan immigrants living in Pakistan said that everyone who has arrived in the past two years is illegal since their visas had expired and the interim government of Pakistan has not renewed them.

“If they [Pakistan’s government] issue visas for the Afghan immigrants, then the Afghan immigrants living in Pakistan will live legally in Pakistan,” said Malik Awal Khan Miakhai, head of the Afghan immigrants council in the west zone of Pakistan.

“Both governments should sit together and make a decision regarding the Afghan immigrants in Pakistan, so that if they stay in Pakistan, then a shelter will be provided for them, and if they are about to be deported, then a schedule should be prepared for them,” said Allah Mir, an Afghan immigrant in Pakistan.

Previously, Pakistan has ordered all undocumented immigrants, including 1.7 million Afghans, to leave the country by November 1, vowing mass deportations for those who stay.

As concerns regarding the deportation of Afghan immigrants from neighboring countries increase, the leader of the Islamic Emirate has also issued an order to establish a committee to address the difficulties of welcoming back immigrants.