Concerns Rise Over Afghan Refugees’ Treatment in Pakistani Jails

Pakistan has once again intensified the arrest, detention, and forced deportation of Afghan refugees.

Just last week, over 500 Afghans released from Pakistani prisons were handed over to the Islamic Emirate via Spin Boldak.

One of the released individuals, Nasrullah, said: “No one respected us there. They looked at our mothers and sisters with contempt.”

Another recent returnee, Mohammad, said: “I was on my way to work when I was arrested and taken to the Karachi refugee camp. They asked me where I was from. I said I was Afghan. That was enough, they beat me so badly that my shoulder still hurts. My only crime was being Afghan.”

Analysts are urging humanitarian organizations to act and prevent the mistreatment of Afghan refugees in neighboring countries.

Political analyst Sayed Haroon Hashimi said: “In general, the arrest, imprisonment, and deportation of Afghan refugees in Iran, Pakistan, or any other country violates international norms, and the global community must stop it.”

Although international humanitarian organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about Pakistan’s forced deportations of Afghan refugees, conditions for Afghans in Pakistan have yet to improve.