Islamabad, March 2 – A local court in Pakistan has ordered the detention of hundreds of Afghan nationals who were arrested during a crackdown on foreigners residing illegally in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local media reported on Monday.
The Afghan refugees, who were taken into custody on Sunday, were arrested on Saturday when law enforcement personnel carried out the crackdown, according to Dawn, Pakistan's leading daily. The judicial magistrate, Mohammad Anwar Khan, ordered the release of several of the arrested suspects, who had legal documentation to stay in Pakistan.
He instructed police to release Afghan nationals who possessed valid visas or had court orders in their favor, the daily reported. The local district courts along Khyber Road witnessed chaotic scenes as police personnel from various police stations brought the detained Afghan nationals there. Long queues of arrested Afghan nationals could be seen outside the courtroom of the magistrate-on-duty.
A police officer accompanying the detained individuals said that the suspects were residing in Pakistan without proper legal documentation. He added that the detained individuals continued to stay in Pakistan despite repeated warnings from authorities to return to their country.
Police said that over 1,000 illegal Afghan nationals were arrested in various parts of Peshawar after the launch of the crackdown. Police in Peshawar are taking special measures to maintain law and order following border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
According to a statement issued by the police, 1,044 illegal Afghan nationals were arrested during the crackdown. It further stated that the crackdown was launched to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident. According to the statement, security has been further enhanced across the district while strict monitoring is being conducted at entry and exit points of Peshawar. It further stated that foolproof security was enforced in sensitive locations, installations, markets and places of worship.
Reports cited that several illegal Afghan nationals were arrested during raids in various parts of Khyber on Sunday. Police detained over 50 illegal Afghans in Jamrud. Police said that they conducted search operations in various areas and arrested over 50 Afghan nationals, who were residing illegally in those areas. Police also took similar action against illegal Afghan nationals in Landi Kotal, according to Dawn.
As many as four Afghan nationals were arrested during operations at Tank Adda in Dera Ismail Khan. Three Afghan citizens were detained in Lakki city and Serai Naurang Town. Police intensified crackdown on illegal foreign nationals and arrested 80 people in Swat. Police arrested 174 illegal Afghan refugees in Kohat and sent them to prison after cases were lodged against them.
The action of the police comes amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. On February 27, Afghanistan launched attacks on Pakistani Army posts and military centers along the Durand Line in response to Islamabad's airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktia on February 21.
Following Afghanistan's attacks, Pakistan launched 'Operation Ghazab lil-Haq' (Righteous Fury) in response to what it described as "unprovoked firing" by the Afghan forces across multiple border sectors. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) carried out airstrikes targeting military installations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.
In recent months, tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have increased, with both sides accusing each other of cross-border attacks and harboring militant groups.
