Sardar Ahmad Shakib, the acting head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Islamabad, met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Pakistan and urged the organization to provide support for Afghan refugees.
In the meeting, Shakib expressed concerns over the arrests and mistreatment of Afghan citizens in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, stating that even refugees with valid visas and residency documents are being detained.
According to Shakib, Pakistani police are raiding the homes of Afghan refugees and, in some cases, demanding bribes and large sums of money.
The acting head of the embassy said: “Our purpose in this meeting was to address the recent problems faced by Afghan refugees in Islamabad and nearby areas, who are being harassed by the police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A major concern is the short time given to them — until January 16th or 17th — to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi. These were the main issues we discussed.”
Since the beginning of 2025, Pakistan has tightened restrictions on Afghan refugees. Afghan refugees in Pakistan have reported that arrests and deportations have made their lives increasingly difficult. Some refugees have called on international organizations to support Afghan citizens in Pakistan.
Shiraz Safi, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, told TOLOnews: “Afghans should not be harassed. There are problems with obtaining visas, which must be resolved. Many of my relatives are in Afghanistan, and the price of a visa has reached $1,500.”
Noorullah Zakhil, another Afghan refugee in Pakistan, said: “The police harass refugees excessively. Even if you have a valid card, they claim it’s expired and make such excuses. No one can move freely in the city or markets.”
Some political analysts believe that Pakistan frequently increases pressure on Afghan refugees and trade relations with Afghanistan due to political disputes.
Salim Paigir, a political analyst, said: “Pakistan has never refrained from putting pressure on Afghans. They have bombed, launched rocket attacks, deported refugees, and seized their belongings during deportations.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations stated yesterday that a tripartite meeting involving representatives from the Islamic Emirate, the UN Refugee Agency, and Pakistan will be held soon to address the situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Comment this post