Afghans report restrictions on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat | Ariana News | Afghanistan News

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has expressed deep concern over the Pakistani government’s decision to de-notify 16 Afghan refugee villages across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab, warning that the move could lead to forced returns of Afghans, including registered refugees, to Afghanistan. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the UNHCR said that many Afghan refugees have lived in these villages for decades and have established livelihoods and communities. Forcing them to leave within a short period, it warned, could have “serious and negative impacts” on their lives, livelihoods, and reintegration prospects in Afghanistan. “The return of refugees should be organised, phased, voluntary, and carried out in dignity and safety, with respect for rights and protection of those in need,” said Philippa Candler, UNHCR’s Representative in Pakistan. The decision follows the government’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), under which Afghan nationals residing without valid documentation have been asked to leave the country. The policy has prompted growing international concern, especially regarding vulnerable groups. UNHCR also raised alarm over the impact on women and girls, noting that they risk being sent back to a country where their rights to work and education remain severely restricted. “Pakistan has been a generous host
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