Quetta, May 13: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan has arrested 34 Afghan nationals, including women and children, who were allegedly attempting to enter Pakistan without necessary documentation and were heading towards Gwadar in Balochistan.
According to local media reports, an FIA spokesperson stated that the arrests were made following a raid in the CPEC Road area after receiving intelligence information. The individuals were reportedly trying to illegally cross into Iran via the Gwadar region.
The arrested Afghan nationals include men, women, and children. After initial questioning, cases have been registered against them, and further investigations have commenced to identify those involved in the illegal movement of foreign nationals and their networks.
The spokesperson noted that this action was taken under measures to curb illegal human trafficking and unauthorized border crossings.
Last week, the Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) reported that Afghan refugees in Pakistan frequently face arbitrary arrests, abuse, extortion, and threats of forced deportation.
In a report released on May 8, AMSO stated that over 3.4 million Afghan migrants have been deported from Pakistan and Iran since 2023. According to Afghan news agency Khama Press, this action is part of an intensified campaign against undocumented foreigners.
The report indicated that 68.3% of surveyed Afghans reported being arrested or jailed, while 96.4% of those detained experienced abuse during their arrest or detention. Furthermore, 85.7% had to pay money to avoid arrest or to be released from custody.
Additionally, 75.6% of respondents reported facing threats, humiliation, and mental harassment, while 72.4% were held for over 48 hours without judicial review.
AMSO highlighted that there is no personal risk assessment conducted when individuals are deported from Pakistan.
This report was prepared in collaboration with the World Organization Against Torture and presented to the United Nations Committee Against Torture. It is based on a survey of 41 Afghan nationals, six detailed interviews, and documents from organizations such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amnesty International, and the Pakistan Human Rights Commission.
Pakistan has expedited the deportation process for undocumented Afghan nationals since the end of 2023, citing security concerns and economic pressures.
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