Islamabad, Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, addressing a motion in the Senate, clarified that there is no ongoing crackdown against Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Instead, the government is focusing on actions against illegal aliens within the country.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, during the Senate session chaired by Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Minister Bugti dispelled the notion of abrupt repatriation of illegal aliens. He outlined that the government has established a systematic mechanism for this purpose, including district-level committees with representation from the Afghan Chargé d’affaires. Bugti revealed that over 290,000 foreign nationals voluntarily returned to their countries, while around 8,000 illegal Afghan nationals were repatriated by the government. Additionally, a special portal and telephone line have been set up to address complaints related to the repatriation process, with 82 percent of the 569 complaints received being satisfactorily resolved.

The Interior Minister emphasized the government’s directions against manhandling during the repatriation process and assured the Senate that any mismanagement at borders would be addressed. He reiterated that legal Afghan refugees have not been affected by these measures, highlighting the strong bonds of brotherhood between Pakistanis and Afghans. However, he stated that with the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, it is appropriate for refugees to return to their homeland. The government’s stance remains firm on acting only against those without valid travel documents. Bugti also mentioned the government’s initiative against illegal social media apps offering online interest-based loans, with 111 apps blacklisted and legal action taken.

Lawmakers in the Senate urged the government to ensure a dignified and honorable repatriation process for Afghan citizens, calling for a comprehensive strategy and a detailed briefing on the issue in a “Committee of the Whole” meeting.