Pakistani police have arrested 13 Afghan doctors and one medical student from a government hospital in Multan, Punjab province, on 15 July, transferring them to a deportation centre in Attock, despite the group's visa applications having remained pending with Pakistani authorities for nearly a year. The detentions mark the latest flashpoint in Pakistan's intensifying crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals.

What Happened in Multan

The detainees said police arrested them directly from a government hospital in Multan before transporting them to a detention facility in Attock, where they now face possible deportation. According to the group, five of them had applied for fresh entry visas while the remaining doctors had sought extensions of existing visas — both sets of applications submitted roughly a year ago with no official resolution received.

The detainees added that Pakistani police and security agencies had repeatedly checked their documents over the preceding year, yet their immigration cases remained in limbo. They have appealed to both the Pakistani government and Afghan authorities to intervene and allow them to remain in the country until they complete their medical specialisation and training programmes.

Pakistan's Broader Deportation Drive

The arrests come as Pakistan continues to escalate its crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals — particularly Afghan citizens — with detention and deportation operations intensifying across the country in recent months. On 28 June, Pakistan's Ministry of Interior ordered the immediate arrest of any Afghan national found living in the country without a valid visa from 10 July onwards.

Pakistan had renewed its deportation drive — first launched in 2023 — in April last year, when the government rescinded hundreds of thousands of residence permits for Afghans and warned of arrests for those who did not leave voluntarily.

Refugee Camps Vacated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Separately, a total of 525 Afghan families were repatriated from Pakistan to Afghanistan after three refugee camps in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were completely vacated. Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Umar Khittab Khan confirmed that the phased repatriation was being conducted under orders from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

The 525 families had been residing in camps at Bizan Khel, Ghoriwala, and Mamand Khel, and were repatriated through the Torkham border crossing. Authorities have now shifted their focus to Afghan nationals living in rented or private residences in Bannu and surrounding areas, with records being shared with local police stations to facilitate early repatriation.

Concerns Over Medical Training Disruption

The detained doctors have expressed particular concern that deportation could force them to abandon ongoing medical specialisation programmes mid-course. Their situation highlights a broader vulnerability: Afghan medical professionals who entered Pakistan legally and maintained their documentation are now caught in an administrative grey zone, with pending visa decisions offering no legal protection against detention. This is not an isolated case — similar detentions of Afghan professionals and students have been reported in other Pakistani cities in recent months as the crackdown widens.

What Comes Next

With Pakistani authorities now targeting Afghan nationals in private residences beyond formal camps, the pace of deportations is expected to accelerate. The outcome for the 13 doctors and one medical student held in Attock will likely depend on whether diplomatic channels between Kabul and Islamabad can secure a temporary reprieve pending a decision on their long-outstanding visa applications.