Pakistan Will Detain Afghans with Invalid Visas Starting from 10 Temmuz

The Pakistan Ministry of Interior has issued a detention order for Afghan nationals residing in the country without valid visas. The decision in question will be implemented starting from 10 Temmuz and constitutes a part of the nationwide deportation campaign. The directive sent by the ministry to local administrations in the provinces demands that the process be carried out swiftly and decisively. Authorities state that this step is a reflection of the goal to apply stricter oversight in the country's migration policies. With the implementation of the decision, thousands of undocumented immigrants are expected to be detained and subsequently deported.

The Islamabad administration had been taking steps to toughen legal actions against undocumented immigrants in the country in recent months. In this context, authorities claim that individuals without temporary residence permits or with expired visas pose a risk to public safety. The alleged security threats posed by immigrants and economic pressures are cited among the main factors shaping government policies. It is reported that tens of thousands of Afghans have been sent back so far as part of the deportation campaign. This new directive aims to make the existing processes much more systematic and comprehensive.

Decades of internal conflict and political instability in Afghanistan had forced millions of people to migrate to Pakistan. A significant portion of these immigrants had to cross the border and take refuge in the neighboring country due to increasing instability there. However, the Pakistan government argues that the long-term stay of Afghan refugees has strained the country's resources and infrastructure. Furthermore, authorities allege that some armed groups are hiding and operating in immigrant camps. These claims are among the elements that have been influential in the government's shift towards harsher immigration policies.

Local authorities announced that starting from 10 Temmuz, police and immigration units will increase inspections in cities through joint operations. It is planned that detained immigrants will be held in temporary centers and legal processes will be initiated to complete their deportation procedures. Human rights organizations warn that such mass detention and deportation procedures could lead to serious legal and humanitarian issues. The dangers immigrants might face upon returning to their countries are also on the international community's agenda. This situation causes debates between Pakistan and various non-governmental organizations.

The developments are also being evaluated in the context of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the neighboring country. The Islamabad administration states that decisive steps must be taken to ensure border security and that it expects support from the international community in this process. In the future, it is expected that the number of deported immigrants will increase during this process and that new policies will be introduced accordingly. Authorities announced that digital systems will also be implemented to register all foreigners in the country. This comprehensive immigration policy is seen as a significant turning point in Pakistan's regional security strategy.