Afghan Refugees Complain of Arrests and Extortion by Pakistani Police in Islamabad
A number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan have reported an increase in arrests and extortion by the Pakistani police in Islamabad and its surrounding neighborhoods, saying that living conditions have become extremely difficult for them.
According to these refugees, on Friday, February 5, Pakistani police conducted a second house-to-house operation in one week in the E11 area of Islamabad, detaining several residents. They added that during the inspections, police broke down doors and searched personal belongings, including wardrobes.
Some of these refugees say they fled Afghanistan out of fear of arrest, retaliation, and pressure by the Taliban administration, seeking refuge in Pakistan, but now they feel they are again under the threat and control of the same forces.
Refugees report that these actions are not limited to E11 but have also been reported in Faisal Town and other neighborhoods of Islamabad, where similar arrests and demands for money by police have occurred.
This situation has escalated amid rising tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban administration, with Pakistan expanding the arrests and forced deportations of Afghan refugees; a move that has raised serious concerns among human rights organizations.
Refugees have called on Western countries and international organizations to pressure Pakistan to prevent the return of individuals who are at risk.
The United Nations previously warned that deportees to Afghanistan—particularly women, military personnel, former government employees, and journalists—face serious risks of arbitrary detention, torture, and other human rights violations by the Taliban administration.
