As the deadline for the voluntary return of illegal foreigners in Pakistan expired, the caretaker government announced the launch of a major crackdown on “unregistered migrants.” This operation will be conducted in phases starting from November 2, involving both provincial and federal authorities.
Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti explained during an interview on the state-run PTV that the government would establish the border for deportation of these migrants. He emphasized that the authorities would commence strict tracking and arrest of foreigners who have been residing in the country without proper registration or documents.
Bugti mentioned that migrants apprehended during the crackdown would be transferred to temporary centers where they would receive essential services, including medical care and accommodation. He assured that “all basic facilities will be provided at these centers to illegal foreign nationals.”
The decision to expel illegal immigrants follows a recent deadly suicide blast in Balochistan’s Mastung, with Afghan nationals reportedly involved in several recent terror incidents in Pakistan.
According to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), there were at least 271 militant attacks in the first half of 2023, resulting in 389 deaths and 656 injuries, marking a 79% increase in terror activities in the country during that period.
Bugti clarified that the expulsion of illegal foreign nationals would be conducted in phases, with individuals lacking travel documents being deported in the first phase. The operation involves the active participation of all provincial governments, and committees have been established at divisional and district levels.
The minister stressed that the government would determine the border for deportation of “undocumented migrants” and urged illegal migrants to return to their countries voluntarily to avoid mass arrests and forced deportation.
In response to a question, Bugti highlighted Pakistan’s history of generously hosting a large protracted refugee population for over three decades, consistent with Islamic values of hospitality and generosity.
