Afghan Migrants in Pakistan: Embassy Reports 800 Detained Despite Valid Documents

The Afghan embassy in Islamabad has said that around 800 Afghan migrants have been detained by the Pakistani authorities among them some of them had valid documents like visa, Proof of Registration [POR], and Afghan Citizen Cards [ACC]. The arrests, the embassy said on Monday also contain women and children which mean separation of families.

The Embassy of Afghanistan expresses its deep concern over the recent detention of approximately 800 Afghan nationals in Islamabad, including individuals holding valid visas, PoR, and ACC cards. The lack of clarity surrounding NOC requirements/issuance process has led to…

— Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad (@AFinPak) January 6, 2025

According to a statement on X, the embassy condemned the Pakistani NOC policy for Afghan migrants so that they won’t be detained. They claimed that even those possessing passports found it necessary to be jailed in Islamabad because of the absence of NOCs; while others are repatriated back to Afghanistan, despite possessing visas awaiting renewal of their stay.

The embassy asked Pakistan government to provide adequate protection and rights to Afghan nationals and further requested the UN and other international human rights organizations to take notice of it as well. Based IOM reports, about 1,236,000 returned to Afghanistan in 2024, which show deteriorating situation of migrants in Pakistan. This is because despite getting a refuge to live in Afghanistan around 3 Million Afghans still live in Pakistan and there tensions gets high regarding their treatment.

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