140 Afghan Migrants Stranded In Rawalpindi As Torkham Border Remains Closed
The Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported on Friday that police in Rawalpindi have arrested around 820 Afghan migrants over the past week.
The Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported on Friday that police in Rawalpindi have arrested around 820 Afghan migrants over the past week.
According to the report, 114 have been deported, while 140 remain detained at the Haji Camp due to the ongoing closure of the Torkham border crossing.
The newspaper noted that deportations have been halted in recent days as the border remains closed. The Torkham crossing was shut down 21 days ago following border tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has tightened security at Haji Camp, where Afghan migrants are held. The increased security comes as only 16 days remain before the forced expulsion of undocumented Afghan migrants begins.
According to an official statement from the Pakistani government, the deportation of undocumented Afghan migrants, including those with Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), will begin on 1 April 2025. Pakistan has also ordered Afghan migrants with active immigration cases for Western countries and those holding Proof of Registration (POR) cards to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi and relocate to other cities.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, once again blamed the Taliban for the border closure. He stated that, despite Pakistan’s warnings, the Taliban attempted to build a checkpoint within Pakistani territory.
