Crackdown on illegal Afghans intensifies

After Jaffar Express attack, security beefed up at camp office near Golra Morr

RAWALPINDI:

In the wake of the attack on Jaffar Express, police in Rawalpindi have ramped up operations to apprehend undocumented Afghan nationals and criminal elements. Security has also been tightened at the camp office near Golra Morr, where Afghan detainees are being held and processed.

The government has set March 31 as the deadline for Afghan nationals to return to their homeland. Those lacking proof of residence or legal documents are being detained in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, with the undocumented individuals facing immediate deportation. However, deportations have been temporarily halted due to the border closure in recent days.

Following the Jaffar Express attack in Balochistan, security forces have intensified search operations across Rawalpindi. The Golra Morr camp has been designated for the screening and profiling of Afghan residents, with stringent security measures now in place.

Rawalpindi police have devised a formal security plan for the camp, under which SP Potohar is supervising operations. A DSP and 40 police officers are deployed in three shifts. Additional security measures include CCTV monitoring, barbed wire fencing, and enhanced lighting. Afghan nationals housed at the camp are not allowed to keep mobile phones, and their records are being meticulously maintained.

Responding to an inquiry by The Express Tribune, SSP Operations Rawalpindi Kashif Zulfiqar clarified that while there is no direct crackdown on Afghan nationals, authorities are enforcing the March 31 deadline. He confirmed that 140 undocumented Afghans are currently in Rawalpindi but have not been deported due to the ongoing border closure.