ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani government on Friday claimed that Afghan nationals were detained during recent political protests in Islamabad.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that the involvement of foreign nationals in political demonstrations is “completely illegal.”
According to Pakistani media, Ms. Baloch said the Ministry of Interior would soon release details about Afghan citizens allegedly participating in the protests.
The demonstrations, organized earlier this week by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, drew a sharp response from the government. PTI officials allege that several of their members were killed during clashes with security forces.
In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the local government declared three days of public mourning in honor of those killed in the protests.
Afghan migrants voice concerns
Amid these developments, Afghan migrants in Pakistan have expressed fears of arbitrary arrests. Many say they avoid leaving their homes to prevent encounters with law enforcement.
“We are detained without any reason,” one Afghan migrant said. “We are afraid to even go outside because of the risk of being arrested.”
No talks with TTP, Pakistan says
In a related development, Ms. Baloch dismissed the possibility of talks with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the militant group responsible for numerous attacks in Pakistan.
“Engaging in dialogue with the TTP would dishonor the families who have lost loved ones in their attacks,” she said, reiterating the government’s firm stance against negotiations.
Pakistan has long accused the Taliban in Afghanistan of harboring TTP fighters, an allegation the Taliban denies. However, a recent United Nations report estimates that nearly 6,000 TTP fighters are currently based in Afghanistan.
