Police clarify that the measure is a temporary administrative measure, not a permanent policy change
Afghan refugees along with their belongings in trucks await deportation to Afghanistan near the Chaman border crossing. Photo: AFP
In view of the border closure and prevailing uncertainty, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police on Monday decided to temporarily suspend the ongoing crackdown and fresh arrests of Afghan nationals residing illegally across the province.
According to a police spokesperson, the decision was made following special directives from the inspector general of police, taking into account the humanitarian and administrative complications arising from the border closure.
Clear instructions were issued to all relevant Regional Police Officers (RPOs), District Police Officers (DPOs) and Police Stations to refrain from making further arrests of Afghan nationals until further orders from the government. However, cases of people who are already detained will be processed in accordance with the law.
Read more: Afghan refugees: the human cost of Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions
Senior police officials stated that during this period, authorities would continue to collect comprehensive 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 policy change. Routine policing would continue across the province to maintain law and order, take action against criminal elements and ensure security of sensitive places.
Also read: Repression widens as repatriation of Afghans accelerates
Meanwhile, Peshawar police also instructed police stations to stop operations against undocumented Afghan migrants until Eid.
In the past two days, more than 1,000 undocumented Afghan citizens were arrested during a crackdown in Peshawar, leading to overcrowding in police stations and a shortage of prison space.
Pakistan-Afghanistan border clash
Pakistan maintains its repatriation policy from November 2023 as part of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. Authorities have since repatriated approximately 1.3 million Afghans as part of the ongoing deportation campaign.
However, tensions have recently escalated following Afghan fire on multiple locations in KP, prompting swift military retaliation.
In response, ‘Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq’ was launched on Thursday night following fresh clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Several Afghan posts were destroyed and dozens of Taliban and Afghan terrorists were killed.
