A U.S. government watchdog that monitors religious freedom around the globe has expressed concern over the treatment and forced expulsions of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers from Pakistan.
In a November 6 statement, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said it is troubled by reports of increased detentions, violence, and intimidation used against Afghan refugee communities in Pakistan.
More than 300,000 Afghans have already returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan after Islamabad announced the repatriation of over 1.7 million undocumented Afghan migrants on October 3.
Since the November 1 deadline for voluntary returns expired, Islamabad has begun forcefully deporting Afghans.
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'We Don't Have Toilets': Afghans Struggle After Crossing Border From Pakistan
Though the call was for undocumented migrants to leave, across Pakistan, many Afghans with valid visas and documents issued by Islamabad to legally remain in the country have complained of being arbitrarily detained, pressured for bribes, or harassed to leave the country.
“We are particularly concerned that the Pakistani government may forcibly return to Afghanistan religious minorities who fled persecution,” said David Curry, a USCIRF Commissioner.
“Under Taliban rule, Christians, Shi’a Muslims, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and Sikhs cannot freely practice their religious beliefs in Afghanistan,” he added.
Since the Taliban returned to power two years ago, its hard-line government has imposed Islamic Shari’a law.
Rights watchdogs and members of religious minority communities have accused the Taliban of discrimination and persecution.
Taliban militants have killed, tortured and persecuted members of the tiny Salafi sect by accusing them of supporting the Islamic State-Khorasan, a rival jihadist group.
Meanwhile, members of Afghanistan’s predominantly Shi’ite Hazara ethnic group have accused the Taliban of ‘systematic discrimination’ by denying them the freedom to practice their faith freely.
Most members of Afghanistan’s tiny Sikh and Hindu minority had already fled the country before the Taliban returned to power. Those who stayed have said they are struggling with strict restrictions imposed on them.
Afghanistan's last Jew, Zalon Simintov, fled the country soon after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.
SEE ALSO: Last Afghan Jew Leaves Amid Minority Exodus In Fear Of Taliban