Crackdown on Afghans set to intensify in K-P after Eid holidays

With Eid celebrations concluded, operations against undocumented Afghan refugees across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are expected to gain momentum once again, according to reliable sources. A temporary halt on arrests had been imposed during the Eid period to allow families to observe the festival peacefully. Now, law enforcement agencies are poised to restart strict actions under relevant laws, targeting those without valid documentation. The process of closing nine Afghan refugee camps, paused during the holidays, will resume shortly after the break ends. Meanwhile, a large-scale voluntary repatriation drive for Afghan nationals is scheduled to begin from tomorrow, encouraging those willing to return to Afghanistan. For Afghan refugees holding Citizen Cards, policy-based measures have already been initiated to determine their future status. In Peshawar, a fresh survey to update refugee data has recommenced, with detailed information to be compiled over the coming week. Special focus will be placed on gathering particulars of business-owning refugees, those who have illegally obtained Pakistani identity documents, Afghan women married to Pakistani men, and other mixed-status cases. Authorities have also started collecting data on the businesses operated by refugees and their assets, reportedly worth millions of rupees. Sources indicate that instructions have been issued to expedite actions against undocumented Afghan nationals who lack proper papers, signaling a renewed push to enforce immigration regulations in the province. This development follows earlier intensified crackdowns in Peshawar and other areas of K-P, where thousands were detained in recent months amid broader national efforts to address illegal foreign residency. The post-Eid phase aims to build on existing registration and repatriation initiatives while addressing security and administrative concerns.