Pishin/Chagai: Authorities have intensified operations to repatriate Afghan nationals residing illegally in Pakistan.
Under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Naimatullah Tareen, action is ongoing in Pishin where shops within the Surkhab camp have been demolished as part of the drive. During the operation, dozens of Afghan migrants were taken into custody.
Officials stated that the crackdown aims to accelerate the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland. Measures are being implemented to ensure the repatriation of families along with their dependents.
The assistant commissioner noted that since September 1, efforts to remove undocumented Afghan residents have been expedited, and hundreds of Afghan families have already been sent back through the Chaman border in a short span of time.
Similar operations are also underway in Chagai’s Gardi Jungle area to clear illegal settlements.
Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades, with numbers peaking after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and again following recent conflicts.
While many Afghans are registered refugees under UNHCR protection, a significant population lives without legal documentation.
Pakistan cites security concerns and economic pressures as reasons for encouraging voluntary and, at times, enforced repatriation.
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The government periodically launches drives to register or repatriate undocumented migrants, coordinating with Afghan authorities and international agencies to manage returns while calling for international support to address the humanitarian aspects of this long-standing refugee situation.
