Migrants returning from Pakistan to Afghanistan have reported facing extortion and intimidation by Pakistani police officers. These migrants were stopped multiple times while trying to leave Pakistan and were forced to hand over money. Pakistani authorities have been pressuring Afghan families to demolish their homes built over many years and leave the country, especially at the Torkham crossing.
The report highlighted that Pakistani police officers at border crossings, particularly at Torkham, were demanding money from migrants, sometimes using force or threats. There has been no public response from Pakistan regarding the allegations of extortion or forced demolition. Islamabad has accused the Taliban of sheltering militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), leading to escalating tensions in the past six months.
Analysts and rights advocates have warned that Afghan migrants are bearing the brunt of the political and security dispute between Islamabad and the Taliban. Despite several rounds of talks involving regional mediators, including meetings in Qatar and Turkey, trade routes and border crossings are frequently disrupted due to the clashes. Aid groups have cautioned that many returnees to Afghanistan arrive with limited possessions and financial resources, facing uncertain prospects in a country grappling with economic hardship and a humanitarian crisis.
