ISLAMABAD — Afghan refugees in Pakistan are enduring worsening conditions as border crossings with Afghanistan remain shut for nearly three weeks, officials and activists warn, according to TOLOnews.
Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador to Islamabad, said Pakistan’s closures have halted trade, transit, and civilian movement, leaving many refugees stranded. “Convoys of refugees, especially from Punjab, are trapped in over 400 large trucks along the Jamrud-Torkham road and are facing severe hardship,” Shakeeb said.
Embassy figures suggest that around 10,000 Afghan refugees have been arrested and sent to detention centers, while thousands more have fled their homes out of fear but remain unable to leave the country due to closed crossings. Shakeeb urged Pakistani authorities to reopen key points, including Torkham, Chaman, Boldak, Angoor Adda, and Ghulam Khan.
Migrant rights activist Alireza Karimi condemned the actions, saying they violate humanitarian principles and international commitments, potentially leading to widespread human rights abuses. “The international community must act to protect the dignity of Afghan refugees in Pakistan,” he said.
Afghan residents in Pakistan have also spoken out against mistreatment. Journalist Zahir Bahand reported that asylum seekers are confined to their homes, unable even to buy food, with some forcibly evicted by police. Refugee Sediqullah Shariati criticized aid organizations, asserting, “UNHCR and regional countries should jointly resolve refugee issues, but these organizations offer little real help.”
The situation has drawn attention from regional activists, including Manzoor Pashteen, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, who decried the expulsion of Afghan refugees while border points like Torkham remain closed.
As Afghan refugees continue to face growing uncertainty, advocates call for urgent humanitarian intervention to prevent further suffering and uphold international protections.
