Pakistan Detains 20 Afghan Migrants in Islamabad Amid Broader Crackdown

Pakistani authorities have intensified actions against Afghan migrants, detaining 20 Afghan citizens in Islamabad over the past week during eight police inspection operations, according to The Nation newspaper on February 23.

Officials confirmed that additional measures targeting Afghan migrants are planned as part of a nationwide enforcement effort. In recent weeks, Pakistan has increased arrests and deportations of Afghan nationals and refused visa extensions for Afghan citizens.

Police have faced accusations of extracting payments from detained migrants. Human rights advocates have criticized the treatment of migrants during these enforcement actions.

Millions of Afghans reside in Pakistan, many without formal documentation, due to decades of conflict and instability in Afghanistan. Immigration authorities have tightened restrictions on undocumented migrants, leading to detentions and deportations across major cities.

Over 100 Afghan migrants are released weekly from Pakistani detention facilities and returned to Afghanistan.