Pakistan has repatriated over 30,000 illegal Afghan nationals from Quetta division in under a month amid a wider crackdown on militants threatening key economic and security interests….reports Asian Lite News
Over 30,000 Afghan nationals living illegally in Pakistan’s Quetta division have been repatriated to Afghanistan in less than a month, senior officials told Dawn. The removals are part of an intensified government campaign following the expiry of Islamabad’s July 31 deadline for undocumented Afghans to voluntarily leave the country.
While many complied ahead of the deadline, thousands remained. Authorities responded with coordinated operations involving police, the Frontier Corps, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and district administrations to identify, detain, and deport those still without legal status.
Coordinated Push to Enforce Repatriation
On Tuesday, Quetta division commissioner Shahzeb Khan Kakar chaired a high-level meeting to review the crackdown. Attendees included Quetta deputy commissioner retired Captain Meharullah Badini, assistant commissioner Kaleemullah, and representatives from the police, FIA, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Special Branch, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the provincial home department. Deputy commissioners of Qila Abdullah and Pishin, along with the SP of Pishin, joined via video link.
Officials reported that inter-agency coordination had been enhanced to speed up the repatriation drive. The commissioner instructed the teams to conduct daily operations targeting undocumented Afghans and to gather records of their bank accounts and registered mobile SIMs, signalling a push to sever logistical and financial networks.
He also stressed the need to involve tribal elders and local community leaders to maintain calm during operations, particularly in areas with strong social or family ties across the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. Importantly, he directed that special care must be taken to protect women and children during the process.
Security Context and Strategic Significance
The crackdown comes as Pakistan’s security forces intensify counterinsurgency operations in Balochistan, a province critical to national security and economic ambitions. Just a day earlier, the Pakistan Army claimed to have killed at least 50 militants—members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—during a four-day operation near the Afghan border. Both groups are banned in Pakistan and have been responsible for numerous attacks on security personnel, civilians, and infrastructure.
The military said the operations targeted areas along the Durand Line where major mining and infrastructure projects are underway, many linked to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Balochistan’s mineral wealth and its location as a transit hub for Chinese investment projects make it a strategic priority for Islamabad. Stability here is seen as essential to safeguarding CPEC’s flagship projects, including the Gwadar Port, which Pakistan and China envision as a trade gateway to the Middle East and Africa.
The Durand Line frontier is also a sensitive zone for cross-border militant infiltration, smuggling, and illicit networks. Authorities have long complained that insurgent groups exploit porous border areas and sympathetic tribal communities to evade security crackdowns. The presence of undocumented Afghan nationals—many of whom fled during decades of conflict—adds a complex layer to this challenge.
Historical Backdrop
Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. While many were granted legal status under UNHCR programmes, hundreds of thousands remained without proper documentation. The Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in 2021 prompted fresh refugee flows, further straining Pakistan’s resources and security apparatus.
In October 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker government first announced plans to expel all undocumented foreign nationals, giving Afghans a clear deadline to return home. Human rights groups and aid agencies criticised the move, citing humanitarian risks, but Islamabad has stood firm, arguing that illegal migration poses economic, security, and demographic challenges.
A Tough Balancing Act
The Quetta division’s mass repatriation drive illustrates Pakistan’s attempt to balance domestic security concerns with humanitarian obligations. By combining deportations with intensified military operations against insurgent groups, Islamabad is signalling that it views border control and internal security as intertwined.
Still, the repatriations risk further straining relations with the Taliban government in Kabul, which has accused Pakistan of mistreating Afghan citizens. Bilateral ties have already been tense over cross-border militancy, trade disputes, and differing security priorities.
As Pakistan presses ahead with its twin goals—removing undocumented Afghans and stabilising Balochistan—the success of these measures may hinge on its ability to maintain regional cooperation while avoiding unrest in its own border communities. For now, the message from Islamabad is clear: the deadline has passed, and enforcement will be relentless.
