Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has responded to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai’s strong criticism of the deportation of Afghan refugees, particularly women and girls. The ministry said it had asked Malala to share a list of at-risk individuals with humanitarian organizations to help ensure their protection.
Yousafzai had recently called for an immediate halt to the forced returns, warning that Afghan women and girls face extreme dangers under the Taliban’s “brutal gender apartheid regime.” She stressed that Afghanistan is not safe and that deportations are worsening the trauma of displaced families.
In its response, Pakistan highlighted its long-standing support for Afghan refugees, having hosted over four million people for more than four decades. However, officials said the burden on national resources is now unsustainable, costing over $200 million annually and straining infrastructure and services.
Pakistan defended its actions as voluntary and in line with international norms, though it is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention. The government also called on the global community to share responsibility and expand refugee resettlement programs to prevent further strain.
