Over 30,000 Afghan nationals illegally living in Quetta Division have been sent to Afghanistan in less than a month, quotes the official sources. All illegal Afghans living in Pakistan were asked by the government to return to their country by July 31st.
A large number of Afghan refugees went back to Afghanistan after the deadline fixed by the Pakistani authorities expired. But a large number of refugees stayed in Pakistan. Due to this situation, the government decided to launch a legal action against them, and joint teams of police, frontier cops, FIA, and district administrations were formed that took action against the Afghans who did not comply with the Pakistan government’s deadline.
On Tuesday, the meeting, chaired by the Commissioner of Quetta Division, Shahzaib Khan Kakar, monitored the ongoing crackdown that has been initiated against the illegal Afghans living in the province. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioner of Quetta, Retired Captain Maharullah Badini, Assistant Commissioner Kaleemullah, and representatives of police, FIA, Nadra, Special Branch PTA, Home Department, and other relevant agencies.
Deputy Commissioners of Qila Abdullah and Pishin, as well as the SP of Pishin, joined the meeting online. The officials concerned informed the meeting that the coordination between all agencies and institutions has been strengthened to speed up the operations against the illegal Afghans living in the province.
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The Commissioner also instructed the relevant participants and stakeholders to carry out operations against undocumented Afghans daily. They also asked them to record the illegal residents’ bank accounts and mobile SIMs collected from them. He stressed the need for involving local elders and community leaders to ensure that the process of sending illegal Afghans back to their country takes place in a coordinated and peaceful manner.
The Commissioner also directed that special care must be taken regarding women and children during the operation and that all departments must work in close coordination to devise an effective strategy to ensure the safe and peaceful repatriation of all the illegal Afghans into Afghanistan.