In recent weeks, Pakistan has come under intense scrutiny from both domestic and international observers due to a surge in reported human rights violations, particularly targeting Afghan migrants and political activists. The situation has become especially volatile as tensions between Islamabad and Kabul intensify, with ripple effects felt across various provinces and communities.
On November 22, 2025, reports surfaced detailing a renewed and forceful crackdown on Afghan migrants residing in Pakistan. According to Tolo News, Afghan migrants allege that police mistreatment has grown more severe, with numerous accounts of arrests on roads, in shops, and even within private homes. Hamed, an Afghan migrant currently living in Pakistan, shared his experience: "Pakistani police severely harass Afghan migrants. They arrest them on roads, in shops, and in their homes. They extort bribes and demand large sums of money." His account reflects a broader and deeply troubling trend, as many Afghans in the country have echoed similar concerns about escalating roadside detentions and home raids.
The crackdown is not limited to isolated incidents but appears to be part of a coordinated government directive. Malik Awwal Khan Shinwari, another Afghan migrant, explained the situation's gravity: "The Pakistani government has ordered all Afghan migrants to leave the country, and because of that, Afghans are being forcibly returned from Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh." His statement underscores the widespread nature of these removals, which have swept across multiple provinces, leaving thousands of families in uncertainty and distress.
Adding fuel to the fire, some Pakistani media outlets have reported that authorities are offering rewards for information leading to the identification and location of Afghan migrants. Tolo News highlighted how such measures have stoked fears among the Afghan community, who now worry about targeted crackdowns and possible betrayals by neighbors or acquaintances. This climate of fear is compounded by reports of arbitrary arrests carried out by the country's security apparatus, which, according to international observers, are in breach of international law.
Legal experts and human rights advocates have raised alarm bells over these developments. The forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, they argue, constitutes a violation of the principle of non-refoulement—a cornerstone of international refugee law that prohibits returning individuals to a country where they may face persecution or harm. Arbitrary arrests and the lack of due process further compound the legal and ethical concerns, painting a grim picture of the rule of law for vulnerable populations in Pakistan.
While Afghan migrants face increasing pressure, another group has also found itself at the center of Pakistan's growing human rights crisis: political activists, particularly those associated with the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). On November 21, 2025, Amnesty International issued a forceful statement regarding the enforced disappearance of six PTM members who were abducted from Peshawar ten days earlier, around November 11. The missing activists—Noorullah Tareen, Hanif Pashteen, Syed Irfanullah, Farman Wazir, Adnan Wazir, and Habib Wazir—remain unaccounted for, with their fate and well-being shrouded in uncertainty.
Amnesty International did not mince words in its assessment of the situation. The organization stated, "These enforced disappearances are part of a troubling trend aimed at silencing dissent within Pakistan." The group further emphasized that such incidents are not isolated, but rather form part of a broader, disturbing pattern of enforced disappearances targeting political opposition, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
The PTM, which advocates for the rights of the Pashtun ethnic group—a community that has long faced systemic marginalization and violence in Pakistan—has been on the receiving end of increasing state repression. Members of the movement have documented a litany of abuses, including arbitrary arrests, targeted attacks, and shootings. Their outspoken criticism of military operations in Pakistan's tribal areas and their calls for justice for Pashtuns have often made them a target for the authorities.
Amnesty International's call to action was unequivocal. The organization demanded that the Pakistani government take immediate and concrete steps to locate the missing activists and hold those responsible for the abductions accountable. Specifically, Amnesty called for an independent, transparent investigation into the disappearances and the prosecution of those found responsible. To date, however, the Pakistani authorities have not provided any information regarding the whereabouts or well-being of the six missing PTM members.
The broader implications of these incidents extend beyond the immediate victims and their families. Amnesty's statement warned that forced disappearances have become an alarming trend in Pakistan, with political opponents and activists increasingly subjected to abuse by state security forces. Such actions, the organization argued, are part of a wider crackdown on freedom of expression and human rights—a development that has drawn condemnation from global human rights organizations and foreign governments alike.
This climate of repression has not gone unnoticed by the international community. The growing pattern of political repression, arbitrary detentions, and forced removals is seen as a critical test of Pakistan's commitment to human rights and the rule of law. Critics argue that the government's actions are eroding the country's democratic institutions and undermining its standing on the world stage.
For many in Pakistan, these developments have created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. Afghan migrants, already grappling with the trauma of displacement, now face the prospect of forced return and possible persecution. Political activists and dissidents, meanwhile, are confronted by the very real threat of disappearance, detention, or worse, simply for exercising their right to free expression and peaceful assembly.
Despite mounting pressure from international organizations and advocacy groups, the Pakistani government has so far remained largely silent on the allegations of abuse and enforced disappearances. The lack of transparency and accountability has only deepened public mistrust and fueled speculation about the true extent of state involvement in these actions.
As the world watches, the fate of Afghan migrants and political activists in Pakistan hangs in the balance. The coming weeks will likely prove decisive, as human rights organizations, foreign governments, and local communities continue to demand answers and accountability from the Pakistani authorities. Whether these calls will be heeded remains to be seen, but for now, the stories of those affected serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their nationality or political beliefs.
In the shadow of mounting repression, the resilience of those who continue to speak out—despite the risks—offers a glimmer of hope for justice and reform in Pakistan.
