The Trump administration's plans to use Pakistan as a transit hub for deporting Iranian and Afghan immigrants have sparked concern from human rights groups, lawmakers, and advocates. The revelation of US court filings shows the intention to route deportation flights through Islamabad, with some detainees even issued Pakistani transit visas. Two aborted attempts to deport Iranians deepened the controversy, including a flight on November 10 that turned back after Pakistan reportedly refused to receive the passengers. Despite Pakistan's denial of any finalized agreement, the potential use of its territory as a transit point has drawn criticism for potentially becoming a backdoor for sending people to Iran and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
The controversy comes amidst President Trump's mass-deportation drive, which relies on third countries to facilitate removals due to the lack of formal diplomatic relations with either Iran or Afghanistan's Taliban government. Pakistani officials could face sanctions if they knowingly facilitate deportations that expose vulnerable Afghans to torture, persecution, or death under Taliban rule.
The latest controversy was triggered by an ICE deportation flight carrying Iranian nationals on November 10, which turned back after Pakistan allegedly refused to receive the deportees. Neither Pakistan nor the US has provided a detailed explanation for this turnaround, with at least nine Iranian detainees being returned to an immigration facility in Arizona.
The groundwork for using Pakistan as a transit point for US deportations had been laid weeks before the flights were aborted, with plans to fly detained Afghan nationals from Louisiana to Pakistan before transferring them to Afghanistan. Nearly 200 Afghans could potentially be deported using this route, according to American officials. The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund also reported that detainees had received 15-day Pakistani transit visas, with an Iranian official visiting detainees in Arizona and showing them a passenger manifest. Despite the discussions concerning Afghan deportees, Pakistan has only acknowledged these discussions, leaving the future of US deportation plans uncertain.