Tensions between Kabul and Islamabad are flaring as the Taliban publicly decries Pakistan’s aggressive stance toward Afghan refugees. Through an audio message from deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, aired via Pajhwok Afghan News on Sunday, the group alleges a disturbing escalation in mistreatment, including widespread arrests and abuse.
Fitrat lamented the plight: ‘Afghan refugees in Pakistan face mounting troubles from official harassment.’ He rallied the UN and partners to safeguard refugee principles globally and intervene decisively.
Repatriation requires economic backing, he added, while pressing Pakistan to honor international laws and end refugee targeting. Corroborating evidence from UNHCR and IOM shows an 18% detention surge for Afghans in early 2026, focused in key districts like Pishin, Chaman, and Islamabad.
Journalists are increasingly ensnared in this net. Thursday saw AMSO decry the arrests of three Afghans—Abdul Rahman Mangal and Asma Mohammadi in the capital, Sameem Naemi in Peshawar—demanding their swift freedom.
These incidents, AMSO argued, shred freedoms of expression and journalism, urging Pakistani forces to halt persecutions and evictions. International appeals followed suit. Over the last year, Pakistan’s sweeps have ousted thousands, hitting hard those who fled Afghanistan after the 2021 Taliban ascent curtailed media operations.
This confrontation lays bare the strains of prolonged displacement, with Pakistan’s security priorities clashing against refugee protections. As calls for accountability grow, the path forward remains fraught for millions of uprooted Afghans.