The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), in exile, denounced the expulsion of Afghanistan refugees from Pakistan, labeling it a “tragic event” that gravely endangers the lives of numerous individuals, including human rights activists, protesting women, former government officials, and political activists.
In a statement on Sunday, the AIHRC wrote: “We have received numerous reports from credible sources indicating that the Pakistani police have been extensively involved in the widespread detention of Afghan refugees and migrants in Pakistan and have expelled some of these migrants and refugees from the country.”
The human rights organization called upon the Government of Pakistan to refrain from detaining and deporting Afghanistan refugees, recognizing them as primary victims of Afghanistan’s war, political crises, and social challenges.
Furthermore, the AIHRC stated, “We call upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to initiate effective negotiations and dialogue with the Government of Pakistan as soon as possible and take measures to prevent the oppressive actions of the Pakistani police.”
The AIHRC further appealed to the Special Human Rights Rapporteur for Afghanistan, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, and other influential regional and international entities to investigate the human rights situation of Afghanistan’s refugees in Pakistan and strengthen support and mechanisms based on explicit, transparent, and accepted standards of refugee and migrant rights to address the demands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Last week, reports from Afghan refugees residing in Islamabad, Pakistan, revealed a surge in arrests and detentions of immigrants by the Pakistani police. Sources confirm that these refugees were stopped in various locations and demanded to present legal residency documents. According to the sources, the Pakistani police even conducted raids on their residences, resulting in the apprehension of numerous individuals.
Echoing these concerns, Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions and consulates in a statement on Friday, denounced the recent arrests of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. They called upon the Pakistani authorities to uphold their humanitarian obligations and provide refuge to those in need.
Following the Taliban’s assumption of power in Afghanistan in August 2021, a considerable number of journalists, human rights activists, and former government officials were compelled to seek refuge in Pakistan. While some have been resettled in Western countries, many remain in a state of uncertainty, awaiting the processing of their applications. Pakistan has also become a temporary home to numerous activists who are awaiting resettlement.
In a recently published report, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) disclosed that since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, more than 1.6 million Afghan refugees have fled Afghanistan. Among them, over 600,000 individuals sought refuge in Pakistan.
