RASC News Agency: A group of protesting women has denounced the arrest of Afghanistani migrants by Pakistani authorities, describing the actions as a stark violation of human rights and expressing deep concern over the continuation of such practices. On Sunday, January 5, the Window of Hope Movement issued a statement warning that deporting Afghanistani migrants would expose them to serious threats from the Taliban. The movement emphasized that most Afghanistani migrants in Pakistan have fled the oppressive grip of the Taliban and are awaiting resettlement to third countries. The statement read, “The Window of Hope Movement unequivocally condemns the forced deportation and harassment of Afghanistani migrants, particularly women and children, from Pakistan as a clear violation of human rights.”
The movement called upon the United Nations and international human rights organizations to intervene urgently and halt the Pakistani government’s ongoing detention and deportation of Afghanistani migrants. In recent days, Pakistani authorities have intensified their crackdown, arresting undocumented migrants and conducting intrusive searches of their residences. Credible reports indicate that even Afghanistani visa holders have, in some instances, been detained and deported from Islamabad by law enforcement agencies.
Thousands of Afghanistani nationals currently reside in Islamabad, awaiting pathways to resettle in other countries. The recent wave of arrests was reportedly triggered after some Afghanistani ethnic groups participated in protests organized by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. In a subsequent statement, Pakistani police declared that Afghanistani migrants must leave the capital and relocate to other areas within the country. Those who fail to comply, the statement warned, would face deportation. This directive has now culminated in a targeted expulsion campaign against Afghanistani migrants residing in Islamabad.
