Latest News
Afghans living in Pakistan ‘concerned’ about their safety
Afghans in Pakistan said they have been living in fear for the past two days and have avoided going outdoors due to the unrest that gripped the country following former president Imran Khan’s arrest on Tuesday.
Speaking to Azadi Radio, one migrant in Pakistan, Abdul Basit, said: “Afghan immigrants who are here do not feel safe. Their concern is that they can neither return to their country, nor do they feel safe in Pakistan. One of the countries that takes the files and cases of Afghan immigrants, Afghans who are in danger here, we request that their cases be dealt with seriously as soon as possible.”
Afghans reported having their internet services disconnected following the arrest of Khan on Tuesday and men said they could not leave their wives and children at home alone.
Another Afghan, Abdul Rahman Karimi, told Radio Azadi about his family’s problems in Islamabad: “We can’t easily go to the market to buy goods, women are facing a lot of problems. Our children who used to be able to go to the market with women for now, they can’t. These problems are increasing every day. On the other hand, the problem of the internet being cut off and social networks not working, including Facebook and WhatsApp, are problems that we immigrants in Pakistan are facing.”
Imran Khan supporters demonstrated across the country following his arrest on Tuesday. In a bid to calm the situation, the Pakistan government deployed thousands of police and military personnel around the country to contain the unrest and blocked internet services in many areas.
But late Thursday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered Khan’s release, declaring his arrest “illegal”.
“The Supreme Court reversed all legal proceedings against Imran Khan … he has been asked to present himself in the Islamabad High Court on Friday morning,” lawyer Babar Awan told reporters.
Awan said the court ruled that Khan was now under its custody and not of the anti-graft agency, adding he would spend the night in the same police guest house as before with permission to see up to 10 people from friends and family.
It was not immediately clear when he would be allowed to go home.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), expresses deep concern and sadness regarding the recent developments in Pakistan, which have resulted in protests accompanied by instances of violence.
Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs IEA, stated that in light of the current situation, the Ministry has provided necessary instructions to its representatives to ensure the safety and security of #Afghan citizens residing in Pakistan.
Latest News
Over 2.13 million Afghan refugees repatriated from Pakistan
Officials say over 150,000 individuals were returned from Punjab alone, where enforcement efforts are being led by the Punjab Home Department’s Foreign National Security Cell.
More than 2.13 million Afghan nationals have been repatriated from Pakistan to Afghanistan as part of an ongoing campaign targeting undocumented foreign residents, according to Pakistani authorities cited by local media.
Officials say over 150,000 individuals were returned from Punjab alone, where enforcement efforts are being led by the Punjab Home Department’s Foreign National Security Cell. The campaign includes inspections of thousands of residential areas and hundreds of markets, resulting in numerous detentions and legal cases against Afghan nationals found without valid documentation.
The repatriation process comes amid heightened tensions along key border crossings between the two countries. Hundreds of migrants have recently been sent back via the Chaman crossing, particularly during disruptions at other transit points.
The Torkham crossing—a major gateway for cross-border movement—has faced repeated closures. Although it briefly reopened, local officials in Nangarhar Province report that it was shut again after only a few hours. Authorities in Pakistan have not provided a clear explanation for the latest closure.
According to Sediqullah Quraishi, head of Nangarhar’s Information Department, the crossing was opened temporarily on Thursday before being closed again without official clarification.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Afghan migrants remain in temporary holding centers across Punjab, where they are undergoing registration and processing ahead of their return to Afghanistan. The large-scale repatriation effort continues to raise humanitarian and logistical concerns, particularly as border access remains unpredictable.
Latest News
Human Rights Watch calls Pakistani airstrike on Kabul rehab center ‘unlawful’
Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said available evidence suggests the strike hit a well-known civilian medical facility.
Human Rights Watch has condemned a recent Pakistani airstrike on a rehabilitation facility in Kabul, calling it “unlawful” and warning it could amount to a war crime.
The strike, which reportedly took place on March 16, targeted the Omid Drug Rehabilitation Center, located within the former Camp Phoenix complex in eastern Kabul. According to international agencies, at least 143 people were killed and more than 250 others injured, most of them patients undergoing treatment.
Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said available evidence suggests the strike hit a well-known civilian medical facility.
“The available evidence indicates that the Pakistani airstrike against a well-known Kabul medical facility killing dozens of patients was unlawful,” she said, adding that authorities must determine why the site was targeted and who should be held accountable.
An employee of the center told the organization that three buildings were struck, including a dining hall, a residential building housing hundreds of patients, and a guard post. At the time of the attack, more than 1,000 patients were reportedly at the facility, many gathered to break their fast during Ramadan.
Human Rights Watch said satellite imagery and visual evidence show extensive destruction across the compound, with multiple structures either destroyed or severely damaged. The organization added that it found no indication the facility was being used for military purposes.
Under international humanitarian law, medical facilities are afforded special protection. The group stressed that attacks failing to distinguish between civilian and military targets, or those causing disproportionate civilian harm, may constitute serious violations of the laws of war.
Human Rights Watch has called on Pakistan to carry out a prompt, impartial investigation and ensure accountability if violations are confirmed.
Latest News
Torkham crossing closes again hours after brief reopening
Officials say the reason for the sudden closure has not been clearly communicated by authorities in Pakistan.
The key border crossing at Torkham crossing has once again been shut down, just hours after it was temporarily reopened, according to local officials in Nangarhar province.
Sediqullah Quraishi, head of information at the provincial Department of Information and Culture, said that on Thursday the Pakistani side allowed the crossing to open briefly to Afghan migrants. However, the crossing was closed again shortly afterward, leaving many travelers stranded.
Officials say the reason for the sudden closure has not been clearly communicated by authorities in Pakistan.
The Torkham crossing serves as one of the most important transit points between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its repeated closures have caused significant disruption, particularly for migrants, traders, and families who rely on cross-border movement.
-
Latest News5 days agoDeadly violence likely without dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan: ICG
-
Latest News4 days agoPakistan seeks Russian mediation to resolve Afghanistan tensions
-
Business5 days agoAfghani strengthens nearly 10% against US dollar amid banking sector reforms
-
Latest News4 days agoWorld must re-engage to prevent all-out Afghanistan-Pakistan war: Financial Times
-
Sport3 days agoAfghanistan squad hit by withdrawals ahead of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
-
Latest News3 days agoAround 2.3 million tourists visited Afghanistan’s recreational areas during Eid: Ghufran
-
Latest News3 days agoIslamic Emirate releases American prisoner Dennis Coyle
-
Latest News4 days agoAirstrike on Kabul drug rehabilitation centre sparks legal concerns
