Sardar Ahmad Shaqib, the acting head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Islamabad, met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Pakistan and urged the organization to provide support for Afghan refugees.
In the meeting, Shaqib expressed concerns over the arrests and mistreatment of Afghan citizens in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, stating that even refugees with valid visas and residency documents are being detained.
According to Shaqib, Pakistani police are raiding the homes of Afghan refugees and, in some cases, demanding bribes and large sums of money.
The acting head of the embassy said: “Our purpose in this meeting was to address the recent problems faced by Afghan refugees in Islamabad and nearby areas, who are being harassed by the police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A major concern is the short time given to them — until January 16th or 17th — to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi. These were the main issues we discussed.”
Since the beginning of 2025, Pakistan has tightened restrictions on Afghan refugees. Afghan refugees in Pakistan have reported that arrests and deportations have made their lives increasingly difficult. Some refugees have called on international organizations to support Afghan citizens in Pakistan.
