The Taliban is turning up the heat on Pakistan, condemning the harsh treatment meted out to Afghan refugees within its borders. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat’s audio message, covered by Pajhwok Afghan News on Sunday, accuses Pakistani officials of rampant arrests and mistreatment that’s spiraling out of control.

‘Refugees are suffering immensely due to increased persecution,’ Fitrat declared. He pressed the UN and related agencies to enforce global refugee safeguards and step in where rights are trampled.

Beyond protection pleas, Fitrat spotlighted the necessity of economic support for Afghans eyeing a return home. He demanded that Pakistan respect international refugee protocols and halt the ongoing campaign of detentions.

Fresh statistics from UNHCR and IOM reveal a sharp 18% rise in Afghan arrests in early January 2026, with hotspots in Pishin, Chaman, and the capital Islamabad. This crackdown extends to media professionals, amplifying global concerns.

Just days prior, on Thursday, AMSO voiced deep worry over the arrests of three Afghan journalists in Pakistan. Abdul Rahman Mangal and Asma Mohammadi were nabbed in Islamabad, while Sameem Naemi fell into custody in Peshawar.

Describing the detentions as assaults on press freedom and human rights, AMSO urged Pakistani law enforcement to end the harassment and deportations. They also sought urgent action from the United Nations.

Since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, many Afghan reporters have sought refuge in Pakistan, only to face renewed perils amid Islamabad’s deportation drives targeting thousands, including rights advocates. This brewing conflict underscores the fragile state of Afghan-Pakistani relations, with refugees caught in the crossfire.