The Government of Pakistan’s crackdown on illegal immigrants, particularly Afghan nationals, has drawn condemnation from Amnesty International. The rights group, in a recent statement, implored Islamabad to cease the “continued detentions, deportations, and alleged widespread harassment” of Afghan refugees, accusing Pakistan of using them as “political pawns.”
Livia Saccardi, Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns for South Asia at Amnesty International, highlighted the precarious situation faced by Afghan refugees returning to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan amidst a crackdown on human rights. Reports of alleged harassment in holding centers and the targeting of legal migrants with Proof of Registration (POR) documents were cited by the organization.
The Amnesty alleged that a 17-year-old born in Pakistan, holding a UNHCR-issued POR card, was detained in Karachi on November 3. Despite being denied access to the detention center, the boy was deported the following day, with his whereabouts remaining unknown.
Saccardi warned that if deportations continue, thousands of at-risk Afghans, especially women and girls, will be denied access to safety, education, and livelihood. The international community’s reluctance to recognize the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, known for alleged human rights violations, adds complexity to the situation.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar linked the deportation measures to the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, accusing the Afghan Taliban regime of non-cooperation in addressing a spike in terrorist incidents in Pakistan. Despite concerns about militant safe havens in Afghanistan, the Taliban-led administration has not taken sufficient action, leading to the deportation measures.
The Doha Accord, facilitating the US exit from Afghanistan in 2021, included assurances from the Taliban that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism against any country, including Pakistan. However, the recent surge in terrorist incidents has strained relations, prompting Pakistan’s response.
These developments underscore the complex geopolitical challenges and human rights concerns surrounding the treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan amid the broader context of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan.
