Afghan refugees in Pakistan face arrests and forced relocations as part of a growing repatriation campaign, raising concerns from the U.N. Refugee Agency.
Afghan refugees in Pakistan are facing arrests and harassment as part of a mass expulsion campaign, according to the Afghan embassy in Islamabad. The U.N.'s refugee agency reported that hundreds of Afghan nationals have been forcibly expelled from the cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as Pakistan intensifies efforts to repatriate approximately four million Afghans who fled during decades of conflict and after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The Afghan embassy stated that its citizens have recently been subjected to arbitrary arrests, searches, and orders from local authorities to relocate from the capital, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi to other areas within Pakistan. The embassy added that this process, which started without any prior official notice, had not been formally communicated to Afghan diplomats.
Pakistan’s foreign office, however, denied claims of harassment, asserting that these actions are part of the "Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan" initiated in 2023. Authorities also stated that they expect Afghanistan’s interim government to create conditions for the successful reintegration of returning refugees.
Despite these assurances, the Afghan embassy revealed that Pakistani officials had informed them of plans to deport all Afghan nationals in the near future, with only valid visa holders allowed to remain in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) confirmed a rise in deportations since January 1, expressing concern over the growing uncertainty among Afghan refugees about imminent expulsions.
These developments come as the U.S. prepares to close the office overseeing the resettlement of Afghan refugees by April, potentially halting the resettlement of up to 200,000 Afghans, many of whom are currently stranded in Pakistan.
At the Astana International Forum, senior officials from Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan held talks to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a focus on trade, economic collaboration, and regional stability.
Afghanistan is ramping up its regional diplomatic efforts, aiming to bolster both economic and security ties across Asia.
The World Food Programme has issued a stark warning over Afghanistan’s deepening hunger crisis, urgently appealing for $555 million to continue life-saving food assistance for millions at risk.
Afghanistan is stepping up calls for international climate support as NEPA chief Mawlawi Matiulhaq Khalis leads talks on rising food insecurity and water shortages, warning of severe environmental threats including Kabul’s looming groundwater crisis.
China has restated its steadfast support for Pakistan during high-level talks in Beijing, even as it calls for peaceful resolution of conflicts and enhanced regional cooperation in South Asia, where tensions have been on the rise.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
Landslides and flash floods caused by days of heavy monsoon rain have killed at least 22 people in India’s northeast, officials said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that the border conflict with Thailand “must be resolved with patience and through legal and diplomatic channels.”
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
An international academic conference titled "Islamophobia: Exposing Prejudice and Destroying Stigma" has officially opened in the capital of Azerbaijan, bringing together global scholars, experts, and policymakers to address the rise and consequences of anti-Muslim discrimination.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 1st, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
Landslides and flash floods caused by days of heavy monsoon rain have killed at least 22 people in India’s northeast, officials said.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
Landslides and flash floods caused by days of heavy monsoon rain have killed at least 22 people in India’s northeast, officials said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that the border conflict with Thailand “must be resolved with patience and through legal and diplomatic channels.”
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