Islamabad, April 3 (NationPress) The government of Pakistan has initiated a significant nationwide operation targeting Afghan nationals, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of 'illegal foreigners,' including those holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). These individuals are being transferred to camps for further repatriation to Afghanistan.

Following the Eid holidays and the March 31 deadline for voluntary return, numerous Afghan nationals and their families have been detained as law enforcement agencies commenced the deportation process.

Interestingly, recent directives to security forces indicate that if any Afghan citizen is found involved in criminal activities, their entire family will also face deportation, reflecting the country's broader punitive strategy.

The Afghan Taliban government in Kabul had appealed to Islamabad to postpone the repatriation of Afghan nationals; however, Islamabad has firmly initiated raids and arrests in major cities.

Pakistan has publicly stated that it will deport individuals lacking legal residence permits, even casting doubt on the status of valid cardholders, as highlighted by the Afghan government.

Philippa Candler, UNHCR representative in Pakistan, remarked, 'Pakistan cannot be expected to bear the responsibility of hosting Afghan refugees indefinitely. There is an urgent need for humanitarian aid, not just for immediate relief but for long-term development efforts.'

The decision to enforce the crackdown without extending the deadline was made during a meeting between Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where a briefing on the repatriation process was provided.

Government officials have issued strict warnings to those who did not leave by March 31.

Details indicate that at least 43 camps have been set up in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province to accommodate Afghan refugees. Authorities plan to conduct further raids to detain illegal Afghan nationals, who will be moved to these refugee camps before being transferred to the Landi Kotal area at the Torkham Pak-Afghan border for repatriation.

Statistics show that approximately 1,344,584 Afghan nationals currently reside in the country, with around 709,278 in KP holding Proof of Registration (PoR).

Provincial records indicate about 317,000 registered Afghans in Balochistan, 74,117 in Sindh, 196,000 in Punjab, 42,718 in Islamabad, and 4,448 Afghan refugees scattered throughout other regions.

Pakistan has asserted that its mass deportation initiative aims to regulate undocumented migration and monitor illegal immigrants, who at times pose a security risk to the nation.