Pakistan Resumes Crackdown on Afghan Migrants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

DID Press: Authorities in Pakistan launched a renewed wave of arrests targeting undocumented Afghan migrants in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the end of Eid holidays. Security forces are expected to intensify enforcement measures, accelerating detentions and deportations of individuals lacking legal residency documents.

During the Eid period, arrests were temporarily suspended to allow families to observe the holiday without disruption. With the festive break now over, immigration enforcement operations have resumed with increased rigor.

Pakistani media report that the closure of nine Afghan refugee camps—previously paused during the holidays—will also restart. In parallel, a large-scale voluntary repatriation program for Afghan nationals is set to begin immediately, offering those willing to return to Afghanistan a structured pathway home.

Officials have also initiated policy reviews concerning holders of Afghan Citizen Cards, aiming to determine their future legal status. In the provincial capital, Peshawar, a new census operation has resumed to update migrant records, with more precise data expected within the coming week.

Pakistani authorities emphasized a particular focus on documenting migrants who own businesses, individuals suspected of obtaining Pakistani identity papers illegally, Afghan women married to Pakistani men, and other mixed-status cases. Data collection efforts now include assessments of migrant-owned assets and enterprises reportedly worth millions of rupees.

The directive to accelerate enforcement against undocumented migrants is part of broader government efforts to manage irregular foreign residency. In recent months, thousands of individuals have already been detained in operations across Peshawar and surrounding districts.