A group of Afghan asylum seekers in India has begun a sit-in protest outside the UNHCR office in New Delhi, demanding the resumption of stalled refugee case processing and an end to deteriorating living conditions.
The protest, which began on Monday, comes amid the suspension of UN assistance and a worsening economic crisis for Afghan refugees in the country.
Qais Malikzada, one of the organisers, told Afghanistan International TV that although many Afghan migrants received refugee cards in 2023 and 2024, the process was halted in 2025 due to major funding cuts to relevant agencies.
According to Malikzada, the suspension has left many asylum seekers unable to pay rent or meet basic needs. He added that the Indian government does not grant legal work rights to refugee card holders, exacerbating their hardship.
Farshad Moradi, another protester, said more than 380 people have joined the sit-in. Their key demand is the urgent resumption of refugee case reviews. He also highlighted the precarious status of undocumented asylum seekers, who are vulnerable to police arrest. He reported that two young Afghan women had already been detained in Kolkata.
“Afghan refugee children are not allowed to attend public schools in India,” he said. “Families are forced to enrol their children in expensive private classes.”
Moradi emphasised that temporary asylum seeker cards lack legal recognition in India and only formal refugee cards are considered valid.
The demonstration follows multiple rounds of unsuccessful discussions between the protesters and UNHCR representatives in New Delhi.
Protesters are calling for faster processing of refugee applications, the issuance of legal refugee cards, and improved access to education, healthcare, housing, and employment rights. They also seek humane treatment by Indian authorities and an end to the harassment of Afghan refugees by security forces.
