The federal government of Pakistan has escalated its campaign to repatriate undocumented Afghan nationals, ordering the immediate arrest of all Afghan citizens residing in the country without valid visas. This move comes a day after the deadline for their legal stay expired.
New Directives for Enforcement
Under the fresh directives, authorities have been instructed to detain every undocumented Afghan national found living in Pakistan. Action will also be taken against individuals who provide shelter to or rent property to such individuals. The intensified enforcement campaign aims to ensure compliance with the repatriation drive.
Authorities have been instructed to submit daily reports to the Ministry of Interior detailing the number of undocumented Afghan nationals arrested, the progress of enforcement operations, and the current status of those taken into custody.
Background and Coordination
According to officials, the Ministry of Interior had already written to the governments of the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir on June 28, directing them to accelerate action against undocumented Afghan nationals and ensure prompt implementation of the repatriation drive. This latest order reinforces those earlier directives.
The crackdown reflects Pakistan's determination to address the presence of undocumented foreign nationals, with a particular focus on Afghan nationals who constitute a significant portion of the undocumented population.
