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Fear of deportation turns deadly for Afghan refugees in Pakistan
Fear of arrest and forced deportation is pushing Afghan refugees in Pakistan into life-threatening situations, with women, children and the sick paying the heaviest price, humanitarian groups warn.
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF) has shared harrowing accounts of Afghan families too afraid to leave their homes, even for urgent medical care, due to Pakistan’s ongoing deportation drive.
In one recent incident, an Afghan refugee couple knocked on the door of a Pakistani rickshaw driver late on a cold November night, begging for help. The woman was in labor, but the family feared that leaving their home would result in police detention. Despite having no money, the driver agreed to take her to hospital.
“She was screaming all the way,” the driver later told MSF staff in Balochistan province. “She gave birth in my rickshaw. It was full of blood. I cannot describe it in words. It broke me mentally.”
The mother and newborn survived after receiving care at an MSF facility, but aid workers say such cases are becoming increasingly common as Afghan refugees face serious barriers to accessing health services.
According to MSF, mass deportations have turned into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Afghan refugees are being held in temporary camps with little or no access to shelter, clean water, sanitation, food, or health care. With winter temperatures dropping sharply, fear of arrest is preventing many from seeking treatment, leading to miscarriages, untreated illnesses and preventable deaths.
Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees since the late 1970s. However, since November 2023, the government has implemented the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, initially targeting undocumented Afghans before expanding to Afghan Citizen Card holders and, more recently, those with UN-issued proof of registration cards.
Deportations surged again from September 2025, coinciding with winter, and are now affecting Afghans regardless of legal status.
MSF has reported tragic cases, including the death of a five-month-old baby who spent the night in freezing conditions at a holding center before reaching medical care, and the case of a woman who died after delivering a stillborn baby in a camp with no basic facilities. Her family was deported to Afghanistan shortly after—along with her body.
“Lives are at stake,” said Xu Weibing, MSF’s head of mission in Pakistan. “Afghan families are being forced to choose between living in fear of deportation and danger upon return. Safety, dignity and humanity are not optional.”
Aid organizations are urging Pakistan to halt forced returns and calling on the international community to urgently increase humanitarian assistance, provide winter shelter, health care and protection, and find safe relocation options for the most vulnerable.
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Bayat Power extends gas supply deal with Afghan Gas
Bayat Power is currently the country’s largest private electricity producer and operates Bayat Power-1, Afghanistan’s first modern gas-to-electricity plant.
Bayat Power has renewed its natural gas supply agreement with Afghan Gas, securing the continued production of 40 megawatts of electricity for the next ten years.
The extension ensures that power generated from domestic gas will continue to be distributed through the country’s power utility, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), supporting households and contributing to economic activity nationwide.
A senior official from Bayat Power, Haji Ismael, welcomed the agreement, stating:
“We are very pleased to witness today the extension of the gas purchase and sale contract with Afghan Gas Company.
“As you know, Bayat Power Company has been generating forty megawatts of electricity from gas in Sheberghan Province for several years, and it is distributed through Breshna Company. This process will continue for another ten years with the extension of the contract. I would like to thank Afghan Gas Company and its leadership” he said.
Ismael added that the agreement aligns with the company’s long-term vision of supporting Afghanistan’s development through reliable, locally generated energy.
Officials from Afghan Gas in Jawzjan reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a stable gas supply, noting that domestic energy production remains an important pillar for long-term stability and self-reliance.
Bayat Power’s facility in northern Afghanistan continues to play a key role in the country’s energy mix.
The renewed agreement follows a separate extension signed earlier this year between DABS and Bayat Power, which also secured power production for an additional ten years—reinforcing a key public-private partnership in Afghanistan’s energy sector.
Alongside the extension, the two sides signed a technical memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening operational cooperation.
Bayat Power is currently the country’s largest private electricity producer and operates Bayat Power-1, Afghanistan’s first modern gas-to-electricity plant. At the time of the earlier agreement, Chairman Ehsanullah Bayat said the company remains committed to delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity, while also exploring opportunities to expand production capacity.
The project itself represents a major milestone in Afghanistan’s energy development. Built as a public-private partnership, it brings together Bayat Power, Siemens Energy, Afghan government institutions—including the Ministries of Mines and Petroleum and Energy and Water—Afghan Gas, and DABS. The facility uses Siemens Energy’s advanced SGT-A45 mobile gas turbine, known for its efficiency and flexibility, and remains a cornerstone of the country’s push toward greater energy independence.
Overall, the renewed agreement is seen as a significant step toward strengthening domestic energy production, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting Afghanistan’s long-term economic development.
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IEA responds to Global Terrorism Index 2026, highlights security gains
The Islamic Emirate also stressed its commitment to fulfilling regional security responsibilities and maintaining long-term stability, vowing to preserve and further strengthen recent gains.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has responded to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index report, emphasizing what it described as a significant reduction in insecurity and continued progress toward nationwide stability.
In a statement, the authorities said Afghanistan is currently on a path toward consolidating lasting security, attributing the decline in violence to effective leadership and the efforts of security forces.
The statement noted that improved security conditions have created opportunities for economic growth, investment, and the implementation of major national and international infrastructure projects. Officials added that plans are underway to strengthen a secure investment environment, expand transit networks, and support the private sector.
The Islamic Emirate also stressed its commitment to fulfilling regional security responsibilities and maintaining long-term stability, vowing to preserve and further strengthen recent gains.
According to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, Afghanistan ranks 11th among countries most affected by terrorism, compared to its previous position of ninth. Pakistan was ranked as the country most impacted by terrorism in the latest report.
Officials reiterated that sustained security improvements remain a top priority as the country seeks to build a more stable and economically viable future.
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