Tue Jan 07 16:56:43 UTC 2025: ## Hundreds of Afghans Detained in Islamabad Amidst Rising Tensions with Kabul

**Islamabad, Pakistan –** The Afghan embassy in Islamabad has voiced strong concerns over the recent detention of approximately 800 Afghan nationals in the Pakistani capital. The detentions, which include 137 individuals registered with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), have sparked alarm amidst growing political tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to the embassy, the detentions are linked to uncertainties surrounding the visa process for Afghans in Pakistan, leading to arbitrary arrests, home searches, and extortion. The embassy statement highlighted the tragic separation of families, including women and children, stranded in Pakistan as a result.

The crackdown on undocumented Afghans follows a surge in deportations since late 2023, pushing over 780,000 Afghans back across the border. This includes many who have lived in Pakistan for decades. While the Pakistani government claims the deportations are a security measure aimed at combating increased militancy in border regions, Afghan nationals allege they are being targeted due to deteriorating political relations between the two countries.

The situation has left thousands of Afghans in limbo, facing prolonged waits for immigration processing and increased harassment. Lawyer Umer Ijaz Gilani, who represents Afghan nationals, described the plight of those awaiting immigration as one of immense suffering.

Pakistan currently hosts an estimated 3 million Afghans, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and those with various legal statuses, according to the UNHCR. The existing short-term extensions for registered Afghan refugees are set to expire in June 2025, adding to the existing uncertainty. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has yet to comment on the embassy’s statement.

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