‘Afghans at risk with deportation’

A leading rights group said the country’s authorities have intensified pressure on Afghan refugees to go back to neigh­bouring Afghanistan, where they risk persecution by the Taliban.

“Pakistani officials should immediately stop coercing Afghans to return home and give those facing expulsion the opportunity to seek protection,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), yesterday.