Islamabad, March 2 (NationPress) A local judicial court in Pakistan has incarcerated hundreds of Afghan individuals who were apprehended during a crackdown on unlawful foreign residents in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, as reported by local news outlets on Monday.

The Afghan refugees were incarcerated on judicial remand on Sunday after their arrests the previous day, following a coordinated effort by law enforcement, according to Pakistan's prominent newspaper, Dawn. Judicial magistrate Mohammad Anwar Khan instructed the release of several detainees who possessed valid legal documentation for residing in Pakistan.

He ordered the police to free Afghan nationals with legitimate visas or court orders substantiating their residency, as reported by the daily. The local district courts along Khyber Road experienced chaotic scenes, with police officers from multiple stations escorting the detained individuals. Long lines of arrested Afghan nationals were visible outside the magistrate's courtroom.

A police officer accompanying the detainees indicated that the suspects were living in Pakistan without appropriate legal status. He mentioned that these individuals continued to remain in the country despite repeated official warnings to return to Afghanistan.

Authorities stated that over 1,000 unlawful Afghan nationals were apprehended in various locations across Peshawar following the beginning of the crackdown. The police in Peshawar are implementing special measures to ensure law and order in light of recent border skirmishes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

A police statement confirmed that 1,044 illegal Afghan nationals were detained during this operation. The statement emphasized that the crackdown was initiated to uphold law and order and avert any potential incidents. Additionally, security has been significantly bolstered throughout the district, with stringent monitoring at Peshawar's entry and exit points. Comprehensive security measures have been established in sensitive areas, installations, markets, and places of worship.

Reports indicate that numerous illegal Afghan nationals were apprehended during raids in various Khyber locations on Sunday, including over 50 arrests in Jamrud. Authorities conducted search operations in several areas, leading to similar actions against unlawful Afghan residents in Landi Kotal, according to the report by Dawn.

Furthermore, four Afghan nationals were detained during operations at Tank Adda in Dera Ismail Khan, while three Afghan citizens were arrested in Lakki city and Serai Naurang Town. The police intensified their efforts against illegal foreign nationals, resulting in 80 arrests in Swat and 174 illegal Afghan refugees detained in Kohat, where cases have been filed against them.

This police action occurs amidst rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. On February 27, Afghanistan launched attacks on Pakistani Army posts and military facilities along the Durand Line in retaliation for Pakistan's airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktita on February 21.

In response to Afghanistan's aggression, Pakistan initiated 'Operation Ghazab lil-Haq' (Righteous Fury) to counter what it termed as "unprovoked firing" by Afghan forces across several border sectors. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) executed airstrikes targeting military sites in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.

In recent months, the tensions between the two nations have escalated, with both accusing each other of cross-border assaults and providing refuge to militant groups.