Mass exodus of Afghans from Pakistan as deportation deadline looms

The United Nations refugee agency has expressed concern over a potential "human rights catastrophe" as thousands of Afghans living in Pakistan are being forced to return home before the October 31 deadline set by the government. The UNHCR and International Organization for Migration have called on Pakistan to suspend the forcible returns, warning that many of those facing deportation could be at risk of human rights violations if returned to Afghanistan. Pakistani Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has also criticized the policy, urging the government to reconsider its mass deportation approach.