Pakistan: Police detain over 20 Afghan refugees from Islamabad

Sources told Khaama Press the police have detained more than 20 Afghan refugees from the Barakaw neighborhood in Islamabad and taken them to an unknown location.

It is also stated that refugees’ mobile phones and laptops have been confiscated. However, neither the government of Pakistan nor the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad has commented on the detentions, told the news agency.

As part of the wide range of initiatives to combat growing militancy, the Pakistani police has commenced a unique “search operation” across the country. They incarcerate undocumented foreign nationals including Afghans who are illegally residing in Pakistan, Khaama Press reported.

Police reportedly conducted searches in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

They randomly entered into the houses of Afghan nationals, and asked for legal documents including visas, and stay permits.

“A few police officers entered my flat Thursday night, checked our official documents, and left our place without even bothering us, or conducting any major investigation,” an Afghan citizen in Rawalpindi told Khaama Press.