Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), has called on international organizations to investigate the treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, urging them to visit the country and assess the situation firsthand.

His remarks come amid reports of police raids, harassment and administrative pressure on Afghan refugees, which have reportedly made daily life increasingly difficult for many Afghan families.

Fazlur Rehman urged international organizations to independently examine the situation and document the treatment of Afghan refugees by Pakistani police and government institutions.

He emphasized the need for independent international monitoring to ensure that refugees’ concerns and rights receive appropriate attention.

The treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan remains a humanitarian concern, particularly amid ongoing challenges related to their security, legal status and living conditions.

His call has renewed attention to the need for international oversight and the protection of Afghan refugees in line with humanitarian and human rights principles.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Guidance, Hajj and Religious Affairs has announced that registration for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage will run from November 1 to November 8.

In a statement, the ministry said prospective pilgrims in Kabul and other provinces can register by visiting their respective provincial or central departments of Guidance, Hajj and Religious Affairs.

Applicants are required to submit the original and a copy of their national identity cards (Tazkira), along with two recent passport-sized photographs.

The ministry said that after registration is completed and the lottery results are announced, selected pilgrims will have 15 days to pay the required Hajj fees.

The first installment has been set at 150,000 Afghanis, while details of the second installment will be announced later.

The ministry urged all interested applicants to complete the registration process within the designated period and ensure that they submit all required documents.

Japan has welcomed Afghanistan’s efforts to combat narcotics, describing the reported decline in poppy cultivation since 2022 as a significant development while calling for continued anti-drug measures and sustainable alternative livelihoods for farmers.

The Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan made the remarks in response to a recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the country’s narcotics situation.

In a statement, the embassy said Japan highly values Afghanistan’s continued counter-narcotics efforts, emphasizing that lasting progress requires not only reducing poppy cultivation but also providing alternative sources of income for farmers previously dependent on opium production.

Japan also stressed the importance of creating sustainable economic opportunities to help former poppy farmers maintain their livelihoods and prevent a return to narcotics cultivation.

However, the latest UNODC report points to a significant increase in poppy cultivation in 2026 compared with the previous year. According to the report, cultivation rose more than fourfold, reaching approximately 43,300 hectares.

Opium production also increased from around 300 metric tons in 2025 to approximately 1,500 metric tons in 2026, the report said.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior has rejected the UNODC findings, arguing that the figures and assessments do not correspond with official information and evidence collected in the field.