The police clarify that the move is a temporary administrative measure, not a permanent policy change
Afghan refugees along with their belongings on trucks await deportation to Afghanistan near the Chaman border crossing. Photo: AFP
In view of the border closure and prevailing insecurity, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police on Monday decided to temporarily suspend its ongoing crackdown and fresh arrests of Afghan nationals staying illegally in the province.
According to a police spokesman, the decision was made on the basis of special directives from the Inspector General of Police, taking into account the humanitarian and administrative complications resulting from the border closure.
Clear instructions were issued to all Regional Police Officers (RPOs), District Police Officers (DPOs) and relevant police stations to refrain from making further arrests of Afghan nationals until further government orders. However, cases involving persons already in custody will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Read more: Afghan refugees: the human cost of Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions
Senior police officials stated that during this period the authorities would continue to collect extensive data on undocumented Afghan migrants, conduct document verification and validate records to ensure effective and organized implementation of any future government decisions.
Police clarified that the move was a temporary administrative measure, not a permanent political shift. Routine policing would continue across the province to maintain law and order, crack down on criminal elements and ensure security at sensitive locations.
Read also: The crackdown is expanding as the repatriation of Afghans gathers pace
Meanwhile, the Peshawar police also issued instructions to police stations to halt operations against undocumented Afghan migrants until Eid.
Over the past two days, more than 1,000 undocumented Afghan nationals have been arrested in a raid in Peshawar, leading to overcrowding in police stations and a shortage of prison space.
Pak-Afghan border clash
Pakistan has maintained its repatriation policy since November 2023 as part of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. Authorities have since repatriated approximately 1.3 million Afghans during the ongoing deportation effort.
However, tensions have intensified recently following the Afghan fire at several locations in KP, prompting swift military retaliation.
In response, ‘Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq’ was launched late Thursday following renewed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Several Afghan positions were destroyed and scores of Afghan Taliban and terrorists were killed.
