• A Pakistan Air Force C-130 flying over destroyed mud houses of Afghan refugees razed by authorities in the slums of Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
    A Pakistan Air Force C-130 flying over destroyed mud houses of Afghan refugees razed by authorities in the slums of Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
  • A Pakistani Christian woman walking with her children in the slums of Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
    A Pakistani Christian woman walking with her children in the slums of Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
  • An Afghan refugee riding on a donkey-cart loaded with his belongings that he salvaged from the ruins of his mud house destroyed by the authorities in the slums of Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
    An Afghan refugee riding on a donkey-cart loaded with his belongings that he salvaged from the ruins of his mud house destroyed by the authorities in the slums of Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
  • An Afghan refugee loading bricks on a donkey-cart after authorities razed his house. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
    An Afghan refugee loading bricks on a donkey-cart after authorities razed his house. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
  • Pakistani Christian tailor Akram Mashi making dresses at his shop in a slum in Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
    Pakistani Christian tailor Akram Mashi making dresses at his shop in a slum in Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
  • An Afghan refugee woman sitting around her belongings after authorities razed her home. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
    An Afghan refugee woman sitting around her belongings after authorities razed her home. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
  • Pakistani woman Mirjan standing in the rubble of her destroyed house at a slum area of Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP
    Pakistani woman Mirjan standing in the rubble of her destroyed house at a slum area of Islamabad. Aamir Qureshi / AFP

In pictures: The destruction of Islamabad’s slums


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The authorities in Pakistan’s leafy, affluent capital have declared war on the slums, largely populated by Christians and Afghan refugees, saying they are illegal and havens for militants. The move has destroyed the homes of some of the city’s most vulnerable.