United Nations experts have called on Pakistan to identify individuals who are at risk of harassment, torture, and serious human rights violations before deporting Afghan citizens.

On Friday, September 18, these experts warned against returning Afghan citizens who face the risk of human rights violations after entering Afghanistan, and called for the establishment of a transparent mechanism to assess their situation.

They said that at-risk individuals should be able to declare their situation and be assessed individually, and remain protected from deportation until the review process is complete, because fear of detention and deportation may prevent vulnerable individuals from seeking protection.

UN experts also expressed concern over reports of returning unaccompanied Afghan children, saying that Afghanistan does not have adequate mechanisms in place to receive, support, and protect these children.

While expressing deep concern over forced repatriation to Afghanistan, these experts called on Pakistan and other countries to adhere to the principle of “non-refoulement,” which is part of customary international law and binding on governments.