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Taliban Urges Pakistan to Halt Afghan Refugee Arrests, Respect Rights

The Taliban has accused Pakistan of increasing arrests and harassment of Afghan refugees, calling for respect of their rights. UN agencies reported an 18% spike in detentions of Afghan nationals in early January 2026. Separate concerns have been raised over the arrest of three Afghan journalists in Pakistan, which a media watchdog says risks their lives if deported. Pakistan has repatriated thousands of Afghans in a nationwide crackdown, affecting many who fled after the Taliban's 2021 takeover.

Key Points: Taliban: Pakistan Must Stop Arresting Afghan Refugees

  • Taliban condemns refugee mistreatment
  • UN reports 18% rise in Afghan arrests
  • Afghan journalists detained in Pakistan
  • Calls for international intervention
3 min read

Pakistan should respect refugee rights and stop arresting Afghan refugees: Taliban

Taliban calls on Pakistan to respect refugee rights and halt arrests of Afghan migrants and journalists, as UN reports an 18% increase in detentions.

"problems faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan are increasing, with arrests, harassment, and mistreatment by Pakistani officials on the rise - Hamdullah Fitrat"

Kabul, Jan 18

Taliban has said that the problems faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan are rising and stressed that Pakistani government should respect refugee rights and stop arresting and harassing Afghan migrants, local media reported on Sunday.

"Unfortunately, problems faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan are increasing, with arrests, harassment, and mistreatment by Pakistani officials on the rise, leaving refugees in serious difficulty," Pajhwok Afghan News quoted Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat as saying in an audio message.

Fitrat urged United Nations and other relevant organisations to uphold refugee protection principles and intervene in nations where refugee rights are breached.

He also said that Afghan refugees return to Afghanistan needs economic cooperation and support.

He emphasised that Pakistani government should be forced to respect refugee rights, follow international refugee principles and stop arresting and harassing Afghan refugees, Pajhwok Afghan News reported.

On Saturday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said that arrests and detentions of Afghan nationals in Pakistan increased by 18 per cent in the first 10 days of January 2026 in comparison to the previous week.

According to the report, majority of the arrests were reported in Pishin, Chaghi and Islamabad.

Earlier on Thursday, a leading Afghan media watchdog has expressed deep concern over the repeated arrest of Afghan journalists in Pakistan and demanded immediate release of three detained reporters.

In a statement on Thursday, Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) said that two journalists were arrested in Islamabad while another was arrested in Peshawar, Afghanistan's leading news agency Khaama Press reported. The names of journalists who have been arrested in Pakistan are -- Abdulrahman Mangal, Asma Mohammadi and Samim Naimi.

The organisation said that the arrest of Afghan journalists in Pakistan, many of whom face deportation, puts their lives at risk, especially if they are forced to return to Afghanistan.

The group termed the arrests a clear violation of freedom of expression, journalistic principles and human rights and urged Pakistani police to stop the harassment, arrest and forced deportation of Afghan journalists.

The AMSO also urged United Nations and other international organisations to intervene in the matter.

Pakistan has repatriated thousands of Afghan migrants over the past year as part of a nationwide crackdown, with journalists and human rights activists being among those impacted. Many Afghan journalists fled to Pakistan as they faced threats and restrictions on independent media activity after Taliban seized power in 2021.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The situation is complex. Pakistan hosted millions of Afghans for decades. Now with their own economic crisis, they are pushing them out. But arresting journalists? That's crossing a line. Freedom of press should be protected everywhere. 🇮🇳
A
Aman W
Irony at its peak! The Taliban, who themselves came to power by force and restrict basic freedoms, are lecturing on refugee rights. However, Pakistan's crackdown seems very harsh. Two wrongs don't make a right. The international community needs a consistent policy.
S
Sarah B
From an international perspective, this is a humanitarian crisis. The 18% spike in arrests is alarming. Forced deportations to a country under Taliban rule could be a death sentence for journalists and activists. UNHCR and IOM must act with more urgency.
V
Vikram M
Pakistan created the Taliban, now they are facing the consequences. But ordinary Afghan refugees shouldn't suffer. India has always stood for humanitarian causes and should raise this issue in global forums. Our voice matters.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I think we need to look at our own house too. While Pakistan's actions are wrong, we must ensure our policies towards refugees, like from Myanmar or Afghanistan, are compassionate and lawful. Leading by example is the best critique.
N
Nisha Z

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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