Pakistan: Police raid Afghan refugee homes in Islamabad

Pakistan: Police raid Afghan refugee homes in Islamabad
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Pakistani police conducted raids on Afghan refugee homes in Islamabad’s F-17 sector on the morning of June 4, 2025, causing fear among the community amid ongoing visa challenges and deportations, Khaama Press reported. Eyewitnesses reported police forcibly entering multiple houses, damaging doors, and searching all areas, including bathrooms and wardrobes, even when residents were absent.

Many Afghan refugees in Islamabad face visa renewals limited to one month, with frequent administrative delays blamed on the Interior Ministry. These delays often result in expired visas, placing refugees at immediate risk of arrest despite the procedural issues being beyond their control.

No official figures have been released regarding detentions or deportations from the recent raid. Similar police actions have occurred in recent months, sometimes targeting refugees holding valid documentation.

The Pakistani government states that over 90,000 Afghan refugees have been deported in the last two months. International human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have condemned the mass deportations and arbitrary arrests, urging Pakistan to ensure a fair asylum process compliant with international refugee laws.