ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Taliban-led embassy in Islamabad expressed concern over recent statements by Pakistani officials, including the country’s interior minister, accusing Afghan refugees of involvement in political activities and unrest in Pakistan.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the embassy asserted that Afghan refugees “have not participated in any political activities or criminal incidents” in Pakistan, emphasizing that they “have always lived peacefully and contributed to the country’s economy.”
The embassy urged Pakistan to refrain from making such allegations, warning that such remarks could lead to harassment, forced displacement, and a worsening of trust between the two nations. The Taliban described the accusations as a pretext to impose further restrictions on Afghan refugees.
Pakistani officials’ statements
The statement follows remarks from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, which recently claimed that several Afghan nationals had been arrested during recent protests in Islamabad.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said, “The participation of foreign nationals in political protests is illegal, and the Interior Ministry will soon release details about those involved.”
Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, further escalated tensions by announcing that starting January 1, 2024, no Afghan national would be allowed to reside in Islamabad without a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
“After December 31, any Afghan citizen without an NOC must leave Islamabad,” Mr. Naqvi said during a site visit to a construction project, according to local media reports. He emphasized the need to regulate the presence of foreign nationals in Pakistan’s capital.
Growing restrictions and refugee concerns
The statements come amid growing frustration among Afghan refugees in Pakistan over increasing restrictions. Some refugees have reported facing harassment even when possessing valid legal documentation, making daily life increasingly difficult.
“I have all my legal documents, but I still can’t move freely,” said one Afghan refugee living in Islamabad. “These restrictions are creating enormous challenges for us.”
According to data from the International Organization for Migration, at least 780,000 undocumented Afghan migrants have been deported from Pakistan since September 15, 2023.
The escalating rhetoric and restrictions highlight the mounting challenges facing Afghan refugees in Pakistan as relations between the two sides continue to strain.
