Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The caretaker government has decided to evict 11 lacs foreigners living illegally in Pakistan because of their involvement in funding, facilitating terrorists and other illegal activities. In the first phase, illegal residents, in the second phase, those with Afghan citizenship and in the third phase, those with proof of residence cards will be expelled.
“Illegally resident foreigners pose a serious threat to the security of Pakistan” said a source privy to the development and added that the plan for eviction of illegally residing Afghan citizens has also been approved as this lot is involved in funding, facilitating and smuggling terrorists whereas 7 lacs Afghans have not renewed their proof of residence in Pakistan.
It has been informed that in the first phase, illegal residents will be deported along with those who do not renew their visas. In the second phase, those with Afghan citizenship will be deported, in the third phase, those with proof of residence cards will be deported.
The Ministry of Interior has prepared a plan in consultation with the stakeholders and the Afghan government. In the meantime, the ministry has also issued directives to the concerned to compile a record of Afghans living without permits and prepare a transportation plan to bring them to the Afghan border.
Apart from checking the records of all the Afghans residing in the country the concerned officials were directed to quickly deal with the applications filed regarding the registration of Afghans.
Meanwile, The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), in coordination with sensitive agency personnel, launched a crackdown on illegal Afghan residents in Islamabad and arrested 800 Afghan nationals, it emerged on Sunday.
Sources indicated that the operation took place in various areas around the federal capital, including Bhara Kahu, Tarnol, Mehrabadian, Golra, Shams Colony, and others. Approximately half of those apprehended were subsequently released after verifying their legal residency status in Pakistan.
Of the remaining 375 Afghan nationals who lacked proper legal documentation, they were detained and are slated for deportation. Additionally, approximately 25 individuals are being held pending the verification of their documents.
This crackdown on Afghan nationals occurred less than a week after the federal caretaker cabinet made a significant policy decision to repatriate all illegal Afghan refugees. This decision is viewed in the context of ongoing tensions between the two neighboring countries.
According to sources, around 400,000 Afghans had entered Pakistan illegally since the return of the Afghan Taliban to Afghanistan in August 2021. Furthermore, an additional 700,000 Afghans have been identified as residing in Pakistan without proper legal status.
The cabinet authorized relevant authorities to facilitate the repatriation of these 1.1 million Afghan refugees who lacked visas or valid documents permitting them to stay in Pakistan. Sources also claimed that many of these undocumented refugees were involved in anti-state and criminal activities, necessitating their prompt return to their homeland.
