Amnesty International has issued a call urging the Pakistani government to end its reported harassment and arbitrary detentions of Afghan refugees. The human rights organization highlights alarming reports of night raids and the detention of hundreds of Afghan individuals, including vulnerable groups such as women and children.
These actions, according to Amnesty International, form part of a broader discriminatory policy targeting Afghan nationals in Pakistan. The organization has stressed the risk these measures pose to Afghan refugees who are already facing significant threats should they return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a reality underscored by the latest requirement for refugees to obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) in Islamabad, further complicating their legal and humanitarian status.
Additionally, Pakistan has been identified as facing scrutiny due to its intensified deportation policies against Afghan refugees, in spite of international obligations. These changed policies have placed Afghan refugees in increasingly vulnerable situations. An estimated 400,000 Afghans have been reported to have returned to Afghanistan since the November 2023 government ultimatum demanding the expulsion of undocumented foreign nationals. This has exacerbated the refugees’ precarious circumstances as they face harsh conditions upon return.
Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, Babu Ram Pant, has highlighted the need for Pakistan to adhere to its legal obligations. The organization calls for the immediate release of detained individuals and an urgent revocation of the NOC requirement. This stance echoes a growing consensus among human rights advocates calling for Pakistan to respect its international law commitments and to promote long-term solutions respecting refugee rights and dignity.
In light of these developments, Pakistan, which has historically hosted a large Afghan population due to decades of conflict, faces mounting pressure from international bodies and human rights organizations to revisit its policies and obligations towards refugees. As the situation remains critical, continued advocacy seeks not just to halt the ongoing abuses but also to establish a framework for a more equitable treatment of Afghan refugees within Pakistan’s borders.