The Pakistani government is set to announce a one-month deadline for all illegal foreign immigrants, with a major countrywide crackdown to follow, targeting primarily Afghan nationals. The decision comes as authorities aim to prevent Pakistan from becoming a safe haven for undocumented immigrants, many of whom are reportedly involved in criminal activities and smuggling networks.
Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti is expected to make the official announcement in the coming days, according to an informed source. The decision to take stringent action against illegal immigrants has been made at the highest levels of government.
Officials have already detained numerous illegal Afghan immigrants involved in illicit currency trading, which was having detrimental effects on the country’s economy. Additionally, a significant number of these undocumented foreign nationals are engaged in various businesses in several major cities, including the federal capital, Islamabad. A surge in street crime in Islamabad has been linked to the influx of illegal Afghan immigrants.
Reports suggest that there are approximately 1.1 million Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan illegally. Of these, an estimated 400,000 Afghans entered Pakistan illegally following the return of the Afghan Taliban to Afghanistan in August 2021. Another 700,000 Afghans have been identified as residing in the country without legal documentation. According to media reports, none of these 1.1 million Afghan refugees possess a valid visa or any other legitimate documents permitting their stay in Pakistan. Many of them have been implicated in anti-state and criminal activities, prompting swift action for their repatriation. The Pakistani authorities have also informed the Afghan Taliban government about this decision.
Pakistan has been a host to millions of refugees for decades, with a peak population of five million Afghan refugees at one point in history. Although unofficial estimates suggest that there are still nearly four million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, the number of individuals with valid refugee cards, as per official records, is significantly lower.
As the government prepares to enforce this one-month deadline and subsequent crackdown, it remains to be seen how this policy will impact the undocumented immigrant population and the broader refugee situation in Pakistan.
