Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has issued a final warning to all undocumented Afghan nationals to leave the country voluntarily and immediately, declaring that the nation can “no longer afford” the escalating security risks after investigations linked Afghan citizens to recent terrorist incidents.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Naqvi also accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government of obstructing a federal deportation policy by shielding migrants, creating “serious difficulties” for law enforcement.
“Afghan migrants are being protected in KP. This is not the case in the other provinces,’ the interior minister stated, adding that several refugee camps in the region remain active despite federal orders for their de-notification.
Naqvi revealed that official inquiries into recent violence, including the assault on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar, had confirmed the involvement of Afghan citizens. “The terrorists who attacked the constabulary headquarters were Afghans,” he stressed, pointing to a severe and growing security threat.
In response, a nationwide directive has been issued to police forces to identify and trace all individuals residing in the country without legal papers. Inspector generals have been tasked with compiling comprehensive data on such persons through their respective police stations.
The minister made a pointed appeal to the provincial government, urging it to cooperate. ‘Our message to the KP government is that it is important at this time to prioritise your country over politics,’ Naqvi said. ‘We cannot afford any more bomb blasts.’
Delivering a stern message directly to migrants without legal status, Naqvi cautioned, ‘My message to illegal Afghans is to leave yourself respectfully. Because if you get caught now, we will not just send you back.’ He further warned that any deported person who attempts to return to Pakistan would be arrested immediately.
The minister’s statements come amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Islamabad and Kabul as Pakistan accelerates its campaign to expel undocumented migrants following a string of attacks blamed on Afghan militants.