The Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration has announced plans to deport nine individuals from Poland back to Afghanistan. Activists monitoring the rights of foreigners in Poland reported that at least two of those being deported are known to have faced persecution by the Taliban. Ewa Tatar, an activist with the Border Group, highlights the potential danger to the lives of these individuals upon their return, given their documented identities and histories of persecution.

Recent developments have intensified the context in which these deportations are occurring. Following military strikes by Pakistani forces in eastern Afghanistan, which resulted in civilian casualties, tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have escalated significantly. The Taliban condemned these attacks, asserting that they violate Afghanistan’s sovereignty, and have vowed retaliation against Pakistan, raising the stakes for anyone being forcibly returned to Afghanistan.

This situation calls into question Poland's approach to immigration and asylum, especially amidst a broader backdrop of international concern regarding the safety of Afghan citizens after the Taliban's takeover. Organizations and activists worry that these deportations may put vulnerable individuals at grave risk just as the security situation in their home country deteriorates, and they urge the Polish government to reconsider its policies concerning deportations, particularly to conflict zones.