Kathmandu: Rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad have heightened challenges for Afghan migrants in Pakistan, with many reporting increased harassment and forced removals, Tolo News reported. Migrants say the strained political environment is increasingly shaping their daily experiences.

Several Afghan migrants allege that police mistreatment has worsened in recent weeks. Hamed, an Afghan living in Pakistan, said, “Pakistani police severely harass Afghan migrants. They arrest them on roads, in shops, and in their homes. They extort bribes and demand large sums of money.” His account echoes broader complaints about frequent roadside detentions and raids on homes.

Concerns have further escalated following Islamabad’s directive instructing undocumented Afghans to leave the country. Another migrant, Malik Awwal Khan Shinwari, said the pressure has intensified across multiple provinces. “The Pakistani government has ordered all Afghan migrants to leave the country, and because of that, Afghans are being forcibly returned from Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh,” he noted.

Tolo News also cited a video circulating on social media—whose time and location could not be verified—that appears to show Pakistani police chanting slogans against Afghan migrants during a public gathering and calling for their removal.

Migrant rights advocates have cautioned against politicising the issue. Mohammad Khan Talebi Mohammadzai, a migrant rights activist, said, “The mass and forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan constitutes a violation of the principle of non-refoulement. 

Arbitrary arrests carried out by the country's security apparatus are in breach of international law.” His remarks underscore growing legal concerns regarding the treatment of Afghans in Pakistan.

Tolo News further reported that some Pakistani media outlets have previously claimed authorities were offering rewards for information about Afghan migrants’ whereabouts, amplifying fears of targeted crackdowns.