A recent announcement by the Interior Ministry has put the fate of over a million Afghan refugees in Pakistan in limbo. The “illegal migrants” must leave for Afghanistan voluntarily, or face deportation. In both cases, they are at serious risk of being persecuted.

The shift in state policy with respect to Afghan refugees is said to have come about in response to the rise in terrorist attacks in the country. There have been reports of “police abuse against Afghans,” including harassment and arbitrary detention. So much for asylum.