At midnight on Saturday, Alma*, an Afghan journalist, stood at the check-in counter at Karachi airport in Pakistan with her husband and three-year-old son, hoping to reach safety. She had already been prevented from boarding a flight two days earlier, on February 26th. Despite booking flights with a return leg to a country in Africa, Pakistani officials refused her family passage. A subsequent attempt to fly to Kabul was too denied.
According to Alma, the officers told her family to return to Afghanistan and fly from there, stating they could not continue their journey from Pakistan. Within hours, she and her family were also turned away from a hotel due to their Afghan passports.
Rising Tensions and Increased Arrests
Alma’s experience unfolds as Pakistan declares itself in “open war” with Afghanistan following escalating cross-border strikes last month targeting Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, also known as the Pakistan Taliban. Afghan refugees report a marked increase in police raids, arrests, and deportations across major Pakistani cities.
The situation is creating widespread fear among the millions of Afghans living in Pakistan, many of whom are journalists, activists, or former government officials who fled Taliban rule. Richard Bennett, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, warns that returning to Afghanistan could put these individuals at “real risk of violent retaliatory attacks.”
Recent clashes escalated after Afghanistan launched attacks along the frontier and Pakistani forces responded with airstrikes on seven camps of the TTP. Reports indicate new checkpoints and house-to-house searches are being conducted across Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta, and Peshawar.
Abdul*, an investigative journalist who fled the Taliban after being previously deported from Iran, arrived in Pakistan in July 2025. After his two-month visa expired, he was arrested twice – once paying 15,000 Pakistani rupees (£40) and again paying 20,000 Pakistani rupees (£40) for his release. He and his family now rent a home under another person’s name, relying on neighbors with valid papers to answer the door during police checks.
Leila*, another Afghan woman in Quetta, described a night of fear when police raided her building, arresting three neighbors, including two with valid visas. A Pakistani hotel worker reported being ordered to turn away guests holding Afghan passports, stating, “It is an order from high up.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the recent increase in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan?
Pakistan declared itself in “open war” with Afghanistan after escalating cross-border strikes last month on Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, who Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of supporting.
What is happening to Afghan refugees in Pakistan?
Afghan refugees report a sharp increase in police raids, arrests, and deportations across major cities in Pakistan.
What risks do deported Afghan refugees face?
According to Richard Bennett, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, returning to Afghanistan could put Afghan refugees at “real risk of violent retaliatory attacks.”
As the situation evolves, will the safety and rights of Afghan refugees in Pakistan be further compromised?
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