Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khwaja Asif, says that Afghan nationals living in Pakistan are involved in illegal businesses and land encroachments. He made these statements while talking on a talk show on a private news channel.
He alleged, “These Afghan dumper owners probably bribe the irrigation department.”
He said, “Dumpers enter Pakistan in three parts without paying any taxes. Afghans extract sand from canals, run illegal trades, and even use canals as washrooms.” He claimed, “Along the banks of all our canals, Afghan nationals have encroached.”
Regarding foreign relations, Khawaja Asif stated, “Pakistan currently enjoys good relations with the United States, but unlike the past, these ties are not based on joint military engagements.” He openly admitted, “In the past, we used clerics and so-called mujahideen for our objectives.
“Whether India accepts it or not, the global community is recognizing Pakistan’s stance.” He added, “International institutions have confirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be unilaterally suspended.”
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Regarding Israel and India, he said, “Israel is acting with impunity because of backing from the US and Europe. If India is also becoming reckless, who is behind it?” He warned, “India may be becoming aggressive, but it’s also becoming increasingly isolated.”
He added, “If internal issues are resolved, Pakistan can prosper significantly.”
Asif’s statement aligns with the government’s broader narrative on illegal immigration and its economic and security consequences, particularly in border regions and urban settlements.
More than 200,000 Afghans have left Pakistan since the government renewed a deportation drive in April, joined by Iran, which is also stepping up efforts on the expulsion of Afghans from its soil. According to the Interior Ministry of Pakistan, more than 1,35,000 Afghans left Pakistan in April, while around 67,000 departed in May, and more than 3,000 were sent back in the first two days of June.
The UN’s International Organization for Migration on Tuesday voiced concerns over a surge in Afghan families being deported from Iran. Recording 15,675 crossings in May, Iranian officials have ordered Afghans without documentation to leave by July 6.