As the chill of winter descends on Pakistan, Afghan refugees living within its borders are facing a crisis that grows more dire by the day. Reports from multiple news outlets paint a stark picture: mass arrests, forced deportations, and the demolition of makeshift homes have left many Afghan families—already displaced and vulnerable—on the brink of homelessness and despair. The crackdown, which intensified in late October 2025, has sparked fear and uncertainty among a population that has sought safety in Pakistan after fleeing violence and instability in Afghanistan.
According to Sakshi Post and TOLO News, Pakistani police have recently taken the unusual step of making announcements in mosques, warning that anyone who assists Afghan refugees—including by renting them homes or shops—will be considered a criminal by the government. This new policy has sent shockwaves through refugee communities and local neighborhoods alike. The warning is clear: “The government has warned locals not to rent homes to Afghan refugees, or they will face legal consequences,” said Malak Mujahid Khan Shinwari, an Afghan refugee currently in Pakistan.
The impact of these pronouncements has been immediate and severe. Many landlords, fearing prosecution, have evicted Afghan tenants or refused to renew leases, leaving families scrambling for shelter as temperatures drop. “Winter has already started. Many of the remaining homes of Afghan refugees here have been demolished. We urge the Pakistani government to stop destroying the rest of the homes, because otherwise, refugees will be left without shelter and with nowhere to go,” Shinwari pleaded, speaking to local media.
Adding to the refugees’ plight, Pakistani authorities have ramped up enforcement efforts. Overnight raids by Islamabad police on October 29 and 30 targeted Afghan refugees in the F-17 and Faisal Town neighborhoods, arresting several men accused of lacking valid visas. These late-night operations have fueled widespread fear among families, many of whom fled Afghanistan after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The threat of detention or forced return to Afghanistan looms large, especially for those who have nowhere else to turn.
Atiqullah Mansoor, another Afghan refugee, described the grim conditions facing those caught up in the crackdown. “A large number of Afghan refugees, including children, women, and the elderly, have been held in Pakistani detention centers for over fifteen days, living in extremely harsh conditions,” Mansoor told TOLO News. The prolonged detentions, coupled with poor living conditions, have drawn criticism from humanitarian groups and rights activists.
The recent escalation follows heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. In September 2025, Pakistani forces carried out cross-border operations in Afghanistan, straining relations between the two countries. Since then, the situation for Afghan refugees in Pakistan has deteriorated sharply. Not only have mass arrests and home demolitions increased, but basic services such as water and electricity have also been cut in some areas, further compounding refugees’ hardships.
Migrant rights activists have voiced alarm at the unfolding humanitarian crisis and called for urgent action. Nazar Nazari, a prominent advocate, emphasized the need for diplomacy and international cooperation. “The solution to this crisis lies in diplomatic negotiations between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, negotiations that must aim to stop home demolitions and prevent forced deportations. In parallel, coordination with international organizations is essential to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and job opportunities. Implementing such strategies can help reduce pressure on refugees and make the return process more humane and sustainable,” Nazari said.
Despite these calls, the Pakistani government has shown little sign of easing its campaign. The official stance remains firm: those assisting undocumented Afghan refugees will face legal consequences, and the process of removing those without valid documentation will continue. The government contends that these measures are necessary to maintain order and uphold immigration laws, especially in the wake of security concerns and political tensions with Afghanistan.
For Afghan refugees, however, the timing could not be worse. With winter setting in, the demolition of shelters and the threat of eviction mean that many families are exposed to the elements, lacking even the most basic protection. Humanitarian organizations warn that without immediate intervention, the situation could quickly spiral into a full-blown disaster, with children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups most at risk.
Refugee advocates argue that the current approach is both ineffective and inhumane. They point to the long history of Afghan migration to Pakistan—stretching back to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979—and the contributions that refugees have made to local communities over the decades. Many Afghans in Pakistan have established businesses, sent their children to school, and built lives despite enormous challenges. Now, they say, all of that is at risk of being swept away in a wave of arrests and demolitions.
Local media coverage has highlighted the deepening sense of anxiety among refugees and their supporters. Families recount stories of police raids in the dead of night, children being roused from sleep and bundled into cars, and elderly relatives left behind in demolished homes with no clear path forward. The psychological toll is immense, with many describing a pervasive fear that any knock at the door could signal the end of their safety in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the broader international community has yet to mount a coordinated response. While some international organizations have called for restraint and increased humanitarian aid, there has been little concrete progress on the ground. Rights groups argue that only a combination of diplomatic engagement, legal protections, and emergency assistance can address the crisis effectively.
The situation also raises difficult questions for Pakistan’s own society. The government’s warnings to locals not to assist Afghan refugees have sown mistrust and division in communities where Afghans and Pakistanis have lived side by side for years. Some residents, sympathetic to their neighbors’ plight, are caught between compassion and fear of legal repercussions. Others, swayed by official rhetoric, view the crackdown as a necessary step to restore order.
For now, the fate of thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan hangs in the balance. As winter deepens, the choices made by policymakers—and the willingness of the international community to step in—will determine whether these families find safety or are forced to endure yet another chapter of displacement and uncertainty.
With the humanitarian stakes rising and the political landscape fraught, the coming weeks will reveal whether a path to safety and dignity can be forged—or whether Afghan refugees in Pakistan will continue to face the harshest of winters, both literally and figuratively.