Pakistan, on Thursday, issued a final warning to all immigrants, encompassing a significant number of Afghan nationals, who have entered the country through illegal means. They have been urged to depart voluntarily before the November 1 deadline, as articulated by the nation's interim Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti.
Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti held a press conference in Islamabad, emphasizing Pakistan's unwavering commitment to the plan of eliminating all undocumented immigrants from its territory post-November 1.
This decision, declared by Pakistan in October, follows the discovery of Afghan nationals' involvement in criminal activities, smuggling, and attacks against the government and the military, including 14 out of 24 suicide bombings this year.
Minister Bugti stated, "All the illegal immigrants have been identified. The state has complete data," and expressed an earnest appeal for these immigrants to depart voluntarily by the impending deadline.
In the event of non-compliance with the ultimatum, law enforcement agencies are prepared to initiate an operation aimed at removing the immigrants.
Furthermore, Minister Bugti announced that stringent actions would be taken against any individuals found facilitating or concealing these immigrants.
The majority of these immigrants, primarily of Afghan origin, have resided in Pakistan for extended durations. They will be subjected to processing at temporary facilities established by the government. Immigrants opting for voluntary departure will receive assistance in the form of document preparation, currency exchange permissions, and transportation to facilitate their exit from Pakistan.
It's noteworthy that Pakistan has accommodated one of the largest waves of Afghan refugees since the Soviet incursion into Kabul in 1979. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan to escape the perils of war and conflict, with many officially registered as refugees with the Pakistani government and various United Nations agencies.
The decision to expel these immigrants underscores the recent deterioration in relations between Pakistan and its South Asian neighbor, resulting from border skirmishes in recent months. Islamabad has accused Afghanistan of providing safe havens for militants to train and plan attacks within Pakistan, an allegation denied by Kabul, which contends that Pakistan's security issues are a domestic matter.
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