Over 165 Illegal Afghans Arrested in Pakistan Crackdown

KARACHI(Web Desk) – Police authorities in Karachi and Chakwal have arrested more than 165 undocumented Afghan nationals as part of an intensified security crackdown, launched in the wake of Pakistan’s cross-border military action under Operation Ghazab Lil Haq.

According to police officials, over 20 illegal Afghan nationals were detained from the Sohrab Goth area of Karachi and later transferred to various police stations for legal processing. An additional four undocumented Afghans were arrested from the Defence area and are expected to be shifted to transit camps after completion of verification procedures.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) City Arif Aziz said that 98 illegal Afghan nationals were taken into custody during targeted and combing operations in Malir. He added that 61 individuals were also arrested for violations of residence laws.

The operation in Malir was conducted under the direct supervision of SSP Arif Aziz and involved raids on residential neighborhoods, hotels, and suspected hotspots. Police teams carried out door-to-door searches, with many arrests made using hotel registration data and search systems amid heightened national security concerns.

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Meanwhile, police in Chakwal arrested 44 undocumented Afghan nationals during house-to-house inspections. Officials said 63 houses were searched and 544 individuals were checked during the operation. Those detained were shifted to holding camps for further legal action.

Earlier, on February 24, 2025, law-enforcement agencies arrested 36 illegal Afghan nationals in coordinated operations across several Punjab cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal and Murree.

During these raids, authorities also recovered illegal weapons, narcotics and counterfeit or misused CNICs from some of the arrested individuals.

Officials reiterated that the state has clearly conveyed its policy that only legally documented foreign nationals will be permitted to reside in Pakistan, adding that operations against illegal residents will continue across the country without discrimination.