ISLAMABAD — In an escalating situation, authorities in Pakistan’s capital and the nearby city of Rawalpindi have increased their efforts to detain Afghan nationals, an action that the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad claims is an attempt to compel the expulsion of Afghan refugees. The embassy, which represents Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, made this statement on Wednesday in response to the rising number of arrests.
In contrast, Pakistan’s foreign ministry has dismissed these claims, asserting that the government’s intention is merely to create favorable conditions for the prompt return of Afghans to their native land. Historically, Pakistan has threatened to deport Afghans living in the country without proper authorization.
Additionally, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently approved a deadline of March 31 for deporting individuals awaiting resettlement to third countries, unless their cases are expedited by the respective governments, as revealed in a document obtained recently. Since the start of 2023, over 800,000 Afghans have either returned voluntarily or been forcibly removed from Pakistan, a figure provided by the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency focused on migration issues.
The Afghan Embassy expressed strong disapproval over the “short timeframe” imposed by Pakistani authorities, highlighting the unilateral nature of the decision made in Islamabad. Reports indicate that Afghan nationals in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi have experienced multiple arrests, searches, and police orders mandating their relocation to other regions of Pakistan. The embassy claimed that all Afghans face imminent expulsion, a detail it noted had not been formally communicated to the Afghan government.
Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, over half a million Afghans have been living in Pakistan without documentation, many of whom are awaiting resettlement in the United States and other countries. In addition, there are approximately 1.45 million Afghan refugees officially recognized by the UNHCR, most of whom fled during the Soviet occupation from 1979 to 1989. Notably, last July, Pakistan had extended the legal stay of these registered refugees until June 2025, ensuring that they would not face arrest or deportation until the extension concludes.
However, Sharif’s recent decision seems to contradict that extension and follows a widely criticized crackdown on migrants without valid documentation. Pakistani authorities are reportedly targeting anyone lacking proper papers, irrespective of nationality.
The Afghan Embassy has indicated that Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed plans for the definitive deportation of all Afghan refugees not solely from Islamabad and Rawalpindi but also from the entire nation in the near future. In response, the foreign ministry reiterated its position, stating that Pakistan expects Afghan authorities to foster conditions that allow returnees to fully reintegrate into Afghan society.
Moreover, the recent suspension of U.S. refugee programs has left around 20,000 Afghans in Pakistan in a precarious situation, awaiting resettlement. Ahmad Shah, a representative from an Afghan advocacy group, appealed on Wednesday for Pakistan to permit Afghans pending relocation to remain in Islamabad until a decision is made by the U.S. government regarding their status. He emphasized the challenges these individuals would face in accessing Western embassies if they are forced to relocate to other regions of the country.
