Illegal Afghan Nationals Face Immediate Arrest as Pakistan’s Deadline Expires

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has intensified its campaign against illegal foreign nationals following the expiry of the deadline for undocumented Afghan citizens to leave the country, with authorities directed to begin immediate enforcement actions against those found residing without valid visas.

According to official directives, any Afghan national staying in Pakistan without a valid visa or legal immigration status will be liable to immediate arrest and deportation under the government’s repatriation policy.

The federal government has also directed authorities to take legal action against individuals found providing shelter or rental accommodation to undocumented Afghan nationals in violation of the law.

As part of the enforcement strategy, authorities have completed geo-tagging and geo-fencing of Afghan nationals in Punjab, including Rawalpindi, to facilitate targeted operations.

Provincial administrations and law enforcement agencies have been instructed to submit daily progress reports to the Ministry of Interior. These reports will include the number of undocumented Afghan nationals detained, the status of ongoing operations, and the legal position of those taken into custody.

According to official correspondence, the Ministry of Interior had issued directives on June 28 to the governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, instructing deputy commissioners and relevant authorities to expedite enforcement measures using geo-tagging data.

The crackdown forms part of the federal government’s broader policy aimed at ensuring that all foreign nationals residing in Pakistan possess valid travel and residency documents.