RASC News Agency: The Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees has announced the release and repatriation of sixteen Afghanistani nationals from Pakistani prisons. In an official statement, the ministry revealed that these individuals had been detained across various regions of Pakistan due to the absence of “legal residency documents.” According to the Taliban, the detainees had spent between two to six days in custody before their release. Media analyses of ministry reports indicate that, as of this month, a total of 88 Afghanistani citizens have been freed from Pakistani prisons and returned to Afghanistan. This data reflects the figures collected since the beginning of the current month.
At the same time, Afghanistani migrants in both Pakistan and Iran have reported widespread complaints of “abuse, mistreatment, and degrading behavior” by law enforcement authorities in these countries. For over a year, Pakistan has been conducting mass arrests and forced deportations of Afghanistani migrants, a practice that Iran has also escalated significantly in recent months. While officials in both nations have attributed these measures solely to the migrants’ lack of legal residency documents, Afghanistani migrants frequently allege that they are subjected to “torture, violence, and humiliation” by police during their detention and deportation processes.
Relations between the Taliban and Pakistan have significantly deteriorated, primarily due to allegations of Taliban support for Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Tensions reached new heights when the Pakistani military launched airstrikes on Khost and Paktika provinces. This escalating hostility has led Pakistan to intensify its crackdown on Afghanistani migrants, further exacerbating their vulnerabilities.
