ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Afghan migrants in Pakistan on Thursday reported an escalation in arrests and forced deportations by Pakistani police, prompting calls for urgent intervention from human rights organizations and international agencies.
Videos shared by Afghan migrants on Thursday revealed that police in Rawalpindi, including areas such as Katriya Market, conducted house-to-house raids, detaining multiple individuals. Migrants described the situation as dire, calling for immediate action to protect their rights.
According to Afghan migrants, the police began their operations early Thursday morning, targeting various neighborhoods across Rawalpindi. The intensified raids have sparked widespread concern among migrants and advocates, who warn that such actions violate international protections for refugees.
“This situation demands an urgent response from human rights organizations,” said one migrant who shared a video documenting the arrests.
Human rights activists have described the crackdown as an escalation of pressure on Afghan migrants in Pakistan, calling on the international community to intervene.
“Continued detentions and deportations constitute a clear violation of the rights of refugees and migrants,” one activist said, urging governments and humanitarian organizations to address the crisis.
The crackdown follows Pakistan’s recent announcement of new deadlines for deporting Afghan migrants, beginning with the expulsion of ACC (Afghan Citizen Card) holders, followed by those with POR (Proof of Registration) cards, and eventually those awaiting resettlement in Western nations.
The policy has intensified the plight of hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants, many of whom fled violence and instability in Afghanistan. Humanitarian groups have repeatedly called on Pakistan to halt deportations, warning that such measures exacerbate an already precarious situation for refugees.
