ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A 24-year-old Afghan refugee awaiting resettlement in Canada has died by suicide in Islamabad, highlighting the mounting distress among asylum seekers facing prolonged delays in the immigration process, according to migrant sources and activists.
The man, identified as Shir, was found hanged late Monday night in a guesthouse in the Peshawar Mor area of the Pakistani capital, sources said.
His resettlement application was reportedly in its final stages, but persistent delays may have contributed to his deepening despair, according to local refugee advocates.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to the worsening plight of Afghan migrants in Pakistan, where crackdowns, bureaucratic hurdles, and financial hardships have left many in limbo.
Hasina Sarwari and Sara Latifi, members of the Afghan women’s rights group Lantern for Freedom, confirmed Shir’s death and said conditions for refugees in Pakistan were deteriorating.
“The closure of the U.N. refugee office, the rising number of arrests, and the high costs of visa renewals have made life even harder for Afghan asylum seekers,” Sarwari said.
Refugee rights advocates warn that indefinite delays in resettlement, coupled with Pakistan’s increasingly strict policies—including mass deportations—have pushed many Afghan migrants into extreme uncertainty.
“The biggest concern for Afghan refugees is the unpredictable delays in their immigration cases,” said one asylum advocate. “Many have been waiting for years with no clear answers about their future.”
Human rights organizations have urged international agencies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Western governments, to accelerate the resettlement process.
Despite repeated commitments from the United States, Canada, and European nations to support Afghan refugees, bureaucratic obstacles continue to leave many stranded in difficult conditions.
The tragedy comes as the Trump administration has paused the refugee resettlement to the United States for at least three months.
Advocates warn that further delays could have devastating consequences, urging the international community to act before more lives are lost.
