Pakistan Intensifies Karachi Demolition Drive, Leveling Hundreds of Afghan Refugee Homes

KARACHI – Pakistani authorities have entered a second day of a large-scale demolition operation in a major Afghan refugee settlement in Karachi, with local officials confirming that over 300 homes have been razed so far. The move has ignited protests from residents, drawn condemnation from human rights groups, and risks further inflaming regional tensions.

The operation, which began on Thursday, is focused on the “Kachhi Basti” neighborhood, a long-standing enclave for Afghan migrants. Heavy machinery, escorted by a heavy security contingent including police, paramilitary forces from the Interior Ministry, and the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), has been used to demolish what officials describe as “illegal structures.”

“These homes were built on state land without any legal authorization. Our operation is about reclaiming public property and will continue until all illegal encroachments are cleared,” a senior KDA official stated on condition of anonymity.

A Clash of Narratives: Reclamation vs. Rights

The government’s position is that the land is state-owned and the structures were erected illegally, posing safety and civic issues. Officials have stated that many of the targeted homes were either abandoned or in a dilapidated condition.

However, this justification is being fiercely contested by the affected Afghan community. Many residents assert they have legal documents proving they purchased their plots decades ago.

“We have been living here for over 30 years. My father bought this land with his life’s savings, and we have utility bills and other papers,” said one distraught resident, Gul Mohammad. “They gave us no warning, no time to remove our belongings. Everything is buried under the rubble.”

Human rights organizations have echoed these concerns, labeling the demolitions as part of a systematic campaign of harassment against Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

“This is not an isolated incident but a continuation of a disturbing pattern of forced evictions and property destruction targeting a vulnerable population,” said a spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). “These actions violate international human rights principles, including the right to adequate housing and protection from forced eviction. The authorities must provide due process and prove that each structure was, in fact, illegal.”

A Wider Crackdown and Regional Repercussions

The demolitions occur against a backdrop of a severe nationwide crackdown on undocumented migrants, primarily targeting the estimated 1.7 million Afghans living in Pakistan. Since a government ultimatum last year, hundreds of thousands have been deported or have fled under pressure.

Analysts warn that the ongoing campaign is severely straining Pakistan’s already fraught relationship with the Taliban-led government in Kabul. The two neighbors have recently seen a sharp escalation in cross-border tensions, including Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan and Taliban retaliatory fire.

“These evictions are a domestic political tool that carries a heavy diplomatic cost,” said Zahid Hussain, a security and political analyst based in Islamabad. “Islamabad is using this to assert pressure and address its own security concerns, but it is pouring fuel on the fire of an already volatile bilateral relationship. The Taliban administration in Kabul is certain to issue strong condemnations, potentially leading to further destabilization along the border.”

As the demolition machinery continues its work, the immediate future for hundreds of displaced Afghan families remains uncertain, caught in a geopolitical struggle that has rendered them homeless.