ISLAMABAD — Police in the federal capital arrested 17 illegal Afghan nationals during a targeted operation in the Bari Imam area, ARY News reported on Monday.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of SP City after authorities received reports about the presence of illegal Afghan residents in the locality. According to a police spokesperson, some of the Afghan nationals resisted arrest but were eventually detained.
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The spokesperson confirmed that all 17 individuals were living in Pakistan without legal documentation and would be deported according to the law. Pakistan has intensified its ongoing crackdown against illegal Afghan nationals following recent border clashes with the Afghan Taliban.
Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting which revealed that as of October 16, more than 1.47 million Afghan nationals had been repatriated, with no further extensions to be granted.
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The government’s drive to expel over 1.3 million Afghan residents holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards has been underway since September 1. Officials said only Afghans with valid Pakistani visas will be allowed to remain, while additional exit points are being opened to speed up the repatriation process.