ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Afghan migrants in Pakistan report a surge in arrests and forced deportations as police conduct round-the-clock raids, targeting homes, markets, and workplaces. The crackdown has intensified in recent days, with hundreds reportedly detained in cities including Islamabad.
“In Afghanistan, we face security risks. Being forcibly expelled from Pakistan puts our lives in even greater danger,” said one Afghan migrant who asked to remain anonymous.
The Taliban’s embassy in Islamabad has denounced the detentions as “arbitrary,” claiming that 800 Afghan nationals have been arrested so far. Among them, 137 individuals had overstayed their visas and were awaiting extensions, the embassy said.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, has called on Pakistan to halt the deportations and alleged mistreatment of Afghan refugees.
“Pakistani authorities must stop the illegal harassment and expulsion of Afghan refugees,” Khalilzad said in a statement.
Human rights activists have also voiced alarm over the situation. Hadiya Sahibzada, a prominent advocate, described the treatment of Afghan migrants as a “gross violation of human rights.”
“The Pakistani government must address this situation immediately and treat Afghan migrants humanely,” she said.
The International Organization for Migration reports that between September 15, 2023, and December 15, 2024, nearly 800,000 Afghan nationals were deported from Pakistan to Afghanistan. The Pakistani government has stated its intention to repatriate approximately one million Afghan migrants, either voluntarily or by force.
Critics argue that the deportations exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The Jamiat-e-Islami Party of Afghanistan has blamed the Taliban for creating the conditions that forced millions to flee the country, describing the group’s rule as “illegitimate and oppressive.”
