Kabul’s Taliban leadership has issued a stern warning to Pakistan over the escalating mistreatment of Afghan refugees. In a pointed audio message, deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat highlighted a surge in arrests, harassment, and abuse by Pakistani authorities against Afghan migrants. Local media outlets reported on Sunday that these issues are pushing refugees into dire straits.
Fitrat’s statement, relayed through Pajhwok Afghan News, paints a grim picture of daily struggles faced by Afghans in Pakistan. ‘Unfortunately, problems for Afghan refugees in Pakistan are intensifying,’ he said. ‘Arrests, persecution, and mistreatment by officials are on the rise, leaving refugees in distress.’
Calling on the United Nations and international bodies, Fitrat demanded strict adherence to refugee protection principles and intervention in countries violating these norms. He emphasized the urgent need for financial aid to facilitate safe returns to Afghanistan.
Pakistani authorities must honor refugee rights and international standards, Fitrat insisted, urging an end to arbitrary detentions and harassment. Recent UN data underscores the crisis: UNHCR and IOM reported an 18% spike in Afghan citizen arrests and detentions in Pakistan during the first 10 days of January 2026, concentrated in areas like Pishin, Chaman, and Islamabad.
The plot thickens with reports of Afghan journalists bearing the brunt. On Thursday, a key Afghan media watchdog expressed alarm over repeated arrests, demanding the immediate release of three detained reporters: Abdul Rahman Mangal and Asma Mohammadi in Islamabad, and Sameem Naemi in Peshawar.
Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) labeled these actions as blatant violations of free expression, journalism ethics, and human rights. They implored Pakistani police to cease targeting Afghan journalists and called for UN intervention.
Pakistan’s nationwide crackdown over the past year has deported thousands of Afghans, including journalists and activists who fled Taliban rule in 2021 amid threats to independent media. As tensions simmer, the international community watches closely, weighing humanitarian obligations against border security concerns.