RASC News Agency: Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, held a meeting on Saturday to deliberate on the potential relocation of Afghanistani nationals to third countries. This meeting comes amidst an escalating crackdown on Afghanistani refugees residing in Pakistan. Although no further details about the session have been disclosed, the move coincides with numerous reports of widespread arrests and mistreatment of thousands of Afghanistani refugees by Pakistan’s security forces since the beginning of 2025. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, has previously emphasized the critical need to amplify Afghanistani refugees’ voices in shaping international policy decisions.
He also called for sustainable, long-term solutions to the ongoing crisis, asserting: “Irrespective of political considerations, the rights of refugees must be respected.” Similarly, Amnesty International has urged the Pakistani government to immediately release detained refugees while highlighting the need to prioritize their rights and welfare. These developments underscore the growing challenges confronting Afghanistani refugees in Pakistan. Meanwhile, international organizations and human rights advocates continue to push for durable solutions and the humane treatment of these displaced individuals.
It is important to note that following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, millions of Afghanistani citizens fled the country to escape the group’s oppressive ethnic, political, military, cultural, and religious policies. A significant number of these refugees have sought shelter in neighboring Pakistan and Iran.
