ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Afghan migrants in Pakistan say authorities have escalated arrests, particularly in the capital, Islamabad, as part of an ongoing crackdown that has drawn concern from rights groups.
In a video statement, activist Ezzatullah Bakhshi highlighted what he described as a worsening humanitarian crisis for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
He reported that a group of Afghan migrants was detained in Islamabad’s Darvesh Plaza area and transferred to temporary holding camps.
“These individuals fled to Pakistan to escape the Taliban, only to now face new threats, including arrest and forced deportation,” Bakhshi said in the video, calling on media organizations and human rights groups to raise awareness of the issue.
The Pakistani government has been intensifying deportations of undocumented Afghan migrants in recent months, despite appeals from international organizations to ensure the protection of vulnerable refugees.
Rights advocates continue to urge Pakistan to halt mass expulsions and provide legal protections for Afghan refugees who fear persecution if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
