A 15-member Afghan family, including children, was detained by authorities in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, as part of the ongoing crackdown on illegal Afghan nationals. Law enforcement agencies have repatriated more than 5,673 illegal Afghans to Afghanistan following the end of the voluntary return deadline. Police have been instructed to gather accurate data on deported Afghan nationals, regardless of the manner of their return, for monitoring purposes.
The crackdown in Pakistan’s Quetta led to the arrest of over 20 landlords and shop owners for renting properties to undocumented Afghan migrants. Those arrested were charged with violating rental laws under existing legal provisions. The operation identified and apprehended numerous undocumented Afghans, highlighting the increasing pressure faced by migrants in Pakistan.
Afghan migrants in Balochistan expressed difficulties in their daily lives due to authorities’ restrictions, which have limited their access to housing, jobs, and essential services. Pakistan has prohibited renting properties to undocumented foreign nationals in Islamabad and surrounding areas, extending restrictions to utilities and mobile services. Afghan refugees have raised concerns about heightened arrests, harassment, and forced deportations in recent months.
In Swabi district, Pakistan, over 300 illegal Afghan refugees were detained by police during raids following a decision by district administration and police officials to deport them. Station House Officers were directed to compile data on illegal Afghan residents in their jurisdictions. Raids conducted in various parts of Swabi resulted in the arrest of 341 Afghan refugees, with plans for continued operations to detain and repatriate all illegally residing Afghans.
