In July, August 2025, the Legal Researchers Team conducted a rapid community based survey among Afghan refugees and asylum seekers living in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The findings, though drawn from a limited sample, expose a disturbing reality: a rising pattern of arbitrary arrests, extortion, detention, and forced deportations of Afghan nationals many of whom are documented refugees or asylum seekers.
Our survey, covering areas such as G9 Islamabad, Faysal Town D17, Tarnol, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Sadiqabad, and Barakahu, reveals the following alarming patterns:
Key Findings
- 30 arrests reported from targeted communities.
- 100% of those arrested reported being forced to pay bribes (PKR 5,000–15,000) for release (source Afghan Families)
- 4 confirmed deportations, including documented refugees with PoR cards or pending asylum applications.
- Frequent police harassment, extortion at checkpoints, and home raids without legal cause.
- Confiscation of identity documents and threats to “go back to Afghanistan.”
The Legal Crisis
Deported individuals, despite holding valid Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, have been:
- Denied due process.
- Returned without formal procedures.
- Rejected upon arrival in Afghanistan by Taliban authorities.
- Subjected to arrest or interrogation on suspicion of having “foreign influence.”
This has resulted in a statelessness crisis where Afghan refugees are now denied recognition by both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
A Protection System in Collapse
Even families who’ve lived in Pakistan for over 40 years are now treated as “illegal immigrants.” Children born in Pakistan are growing up without:
- Legal documentation
- Access to education or healthcare
- Any recognized nationality
Many have never set foot in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and face persecution upon return, especially women, activists, and those associated with Western institutions.
Where is the Protection?
- UNHCR and partners are seen as passive — collecting data but offering no legal assistance.
- No legal aid, shelter, or advocacy has been provided to the surveyed individuals.
- A deep sense of hopelessness, fear, and abandonment pervades refugee communities.
What Must Be Done Urgently
- Legal aid for those at risk of deportation.
- International pressure to stop arbitrary arrests and forced returns.
- Recognition of refugee and asylum rights under international law.
- Reinstatement of identity protections for documented Afghans.
- Protection for vulnerable families, especially women, elderly, and children.
Call to Action
We call on:
- UNHCR, civil society, legal organizations, and diplomatic missions
- To take immediate action, intervene in deportations, and hold authorities accountable.
- To press for legal recognition and halt this growing humanitarian crisis.
The world cannot turn away while families are torn apart, refugees are forced into statelessness, and innocent lives hang in legal limbo.