Pakistan Implements No Objection Certificate for Migrants

The Pakistani government has implemented a new directive requiring migrants to obtain a letter that effectively strips them of their right to peaceful protest, raising concerns over human rights violations. Afghan migrants who have been forcibly deported from Pakistan are returning to dire conditions in Helmand Province, facing economic hardships and a lack of opportunities despite some holding legal migration documents. Reports indicate that many deportees returned empty-handed, compounding their struggles. Meanwhile, Afghan refugees remaining in Pakistan live in fear of harassment, extortion, and arrests amidst rising anti-Afghan sentiment, with the police reportedly engaging in similar behaviors to the Taliban. The Pakistani government has cited security concerns as justification for its crackdown on undocumented migrants, evicting around 750,000 Afghans in recent months. This situation has left many Afghans feeling trapped, as they cannot safely navigate their daily lives while awaiting relocation to Western nations.