The purpose of this report is to provide relevant information in view of the assessment of international protection, including refugee status and subsidiary protection.
The report covers the period of 1 October 2023 – 25 October 2024. Events taking place after the end of the reference period have not been included.
The report’s first chapter provides information on an overview of the country, covering aspects such as geography, ethnic groups, and the state structure. The second chapter focuses on political developments, while the third chapter details the main actors involved in the conflict, including Pakistan's armed forces and non-state armed groups. The fourth chapter provides information on the security situation, with a focus on regional variations. The fifth chapter provides information on the structure and functioning of the judiciary. The sixth chapter focuses on the treatment of certain profiles and groups of population and the seventh chapter addresses the socio-economic and humanitarian situation, and the final chapter provides information on the situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
This report was jointly drafted by the EUAA COI Sector together with:
- Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation (ACCORD).
The following national asylum and migration departments reviewed this report:
- Austria, Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum, Country of Origin Information Department
- Belgium, Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS), Centre for Documentation and Research (Cedoca)
- France, Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA), Information, Documentation and Research Division (DIDR)
- The Netherlands, Office for Country Information and Language Analysis, Ministry of Justice (OCILA)
This report was written according to the EUAA COI Report Methodology (2023) and the EUAA COI Writing and Referencing Style Guide (2023).
Policy
The security and human rights situation in Pakistan is problematic. Many citizens of Pakistan are being exposed to ethno-political or sectarian violence and the Pakistani authorities are often unable or unwilling to offer protection. The violence in Pakistan can be mainly attributed to terrorist organisations that are active in the country. These organisations primarily target members of the security services and the army, members of religious minorities and the police. In addition, Pakistan sometimes sees large-scale attacks aiming to cause a maximum number of casualties within a specific community. Religious minorities, primarily Shi’a Muslims, are generally targeted. However, such attacks are rather the exception than the rule. The security situation in the country is further influenced by flares of violence between extremist elements and government troops in the north-west of the country as well as by the nationalist uprising in Baluchistan.