The Afghan embassy in Pakistan has reported the detention of approximately 800 Afghan nationals in Islamabad, including individuals registered with the UN’s refugee agency. In a statement issued late Monday, the embassy expressed concern over the growing uncertainty surrounding visa processes, which has led to “arbitrary detention and deportation.”
Since late 2023, Pakistan has intensified its crackdown on undocumented Afghans, resulting in the deportation of over 780,000 people, many of whom had lived in Pakistan for decades. The embassy warned that these actions have led to the “tragic separation of families, including women and children, many of whom remain stranded in Pakistan.”
The embassy further revealed that the detained individuals included 137 Afghans with pending visa extension requests or temporary registration under the UNHCR. It condemned the recent reports of “unwarranted arrests, home searches, and extortion targeting Afghan nationals.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has yet to respond to the embassy’s statement. However, the Pakistani government has justified its deportation efforts as a security measure following a surge in militancy near the border.
More than 600,000 Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, many awaiting resettlement in Western countries. Delays in the processing of their immigration cases have forced thousands to stay in guest houses in Islamabad, where reports of police harassment have increased.
Lawyer Umer Ijaz Gilani, who represents Afghan refugees, stated that those awaiting immigration in Pakistan are enduring significant hardships.
Pakistan currently hosts around 1.5 million Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, alongside another 1.5 million individuals of varying legal statuses, according to the UNHCR. While Pakistan has offered temporary extensions for registered refugees, the current extension expires in June 2025.