Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Release of Afghan Refugees and Cancellation of "No Objection Letter" Policy

In a statement released by the organization, Babu Ram Pant, Deputy Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, said that the police’s nighttime raids, harassment, and arbitrary detentions of hundreds of Afghan refugees, including women and children, in Islamabad, Pakistan, are part of a broader "discriminatory policy against Afghans" in the country.

He added that requiring Afghan refugees to obtain an NOC imposes heavy burdens on them and exacerbates their already fragile conditions.

Pant stated: "The Pakistani government has repeatedly and arbitrarily enforced policies that have worsened the fragile situation of Afghan refugees in the country, leading to the forced return of thousands over the past 15 months."

This Amnesty official emphasized that Pakistan's new policy further endangers vulnerable populations, leading to the harassment and detention of refugees even with valid documents and visas.

He also clarified that all refugees and migrants, regardless of their document status, are entitled to a fair trial and protection from forced return under international human rights law.

Amnesty International has confirmed that, according to the "Joint Committee for Refugee Action" report, more than 800 Afghan refugees have been detained in Islamabad since January 1, 2025.

Previously, the Taliban embassy in Islamabad also reported that the Pakistani police had detained around 800 Afghan refugees in the city.

The new wave of Afghan refugee detentions began after protests by supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on November 26-27, 2024. The police later announced that some Afghan citizens had participated in the protests and were detained.

Following these protests, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, announced that no Afghan citizens would be allowed to stay in Islamabad without an NOC.