On Tuesday, Pakistan's interim government established November 1 as the deadline for thousands of undocumented immigrants, including Afghan nationals, to leave the country or face imprisonment and deportation. This action is part of an intensified crackdown against individuals involved in militancy and smuggling.
In response to the Taliban's objection, Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, held discussions with his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Tibet during their participation in the third Trans-Himalayan Forum for International Cooperation. Foreign Minister Jilani reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Afghanistan and emphasized the importance of addressing regional challenges to peace and stability through collaborative efforts.
Pakistan's Foreign Office issued a statement clarifying that the ongoing operation aims to repatriate individuals who have either overstayed their visas or lack valid documents to remain in the country. This operation is conducted in accordance with Pakistan's domestic laws.
The operation does not affect the approximately 1.4 million Afghan refugees Pakistan has hosted for decades, despite its own economic limitations. Pakistan's national policy regarding Afghan refugees remains unchanged, and the safe and dignified repatriation of these refugees is a separate matter that Pakistan continues to discuss with Afghanistan.
The Foreign Office also refuted media reports suggesting that Pakistan has halted transit trade with Afghanistan, confirming that trade continues but with a commitment to prevent the misuse of existing trade facilities.
Interim Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti revealed that there are approximately 1.73 million unregistered illegal Afghans residing in Pakistan. He noted that since January, Afghan nationals have carried out 14 out of 24 suicide attacks in Pakistan.
Security officials have been cracking down on illegal Afghan residents, with over 700 Afghans arrested in Karachi since early September, along with hundreds more in other cities. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial police chief, Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, stated that 75% of suicide bombers in the province were Afghan nationals, with corresponding fingerprints matching this ratio. Afghan nationals have also been arrested for extortion activities in the region.
In light of these developments, the KPK police are compiling lists of illegal Afghan residents in Pakistan, along with data on those who obtained Pakistani Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) through illicit means. These efforts aim to address security concerns and ensure lawful residence in the country.
