Amnesty International has called upon Pakistan to cease the arbitrary detention of Afghan refugees, including those possessing valid visas. This issue highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Afghans seeking refuge in Pakistan, many of whom fled after the Taliban's resurgence in 2021. While the Taliban declared an amnesty, a large number of Afghans continue to seek refuge abroad, facing delays in visa processing for resettlement in countries like the United States.
A group of former EU election project workers in Afghanistan (2018-2020) have also appealed for visa assistance. In an open letter, they describe preemptively requesting visas from the EU before Kabul fell to the Taliban, but their requests remain largely unaddressed, leaving them in precarious situations. These individuals highlight the continued struggle for those seeking asylum and relocation from Afghanistan.
Amnesty International's statement on World Refugee Day underscored the urgency of the situation, urging Pakistan to stop the harassment and arrests and highlighting the lack of international attention on the plight of Afghan refugees in the country. Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty’s deputy regional director for South Asia, expressed deep concern about the vulnerability of this population. Pakistani officials have stated that arrests are limited to those without proper documentation, who are subsequently deported. However, for many Afghans, returning to their homeland is not a viable option.
Amnesty International emphasizes the need for the UNHCR to expedite the processing of asylum applications for Afghans in Pakistan. They also echo the call for countries with relocation programs to accelerate visa processing for Afghan refugees. According to the agency, Pakistan hosts over 3.7 million Afghans, with only 1.4 million officially registered. Earlier this month, the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad similarly urged Pakistan to stop detaining Afghans, citing the recent arrest of 250 individuals lacking travel documents.
