FIA, police foil migrant smuggling to Iran

Authorities in Balochistan foiled a major migrant smuggling attempt on Sunday, detaining 29 Afghan nationals during a joint operation by the police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Turbat district, officials confirmed.

According to police, the operation was conducted on the outskirts of Turbat, where officers intercepted a Land Cruiser packed with people attempting to cross the border illegally into Iran.

Among those arrested were 12 men, 13 children and 4 women, along with two drivers accused of facilitating the illegal crossing through remote desert routes.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the Afghan nationals were planning to enter Iran as part of a longer journey to Europe through smuggling networks. The detainees have been handed over to the FIA for further questioning, while a full-scale probe has been launched to identify the network's operatives.

Officials said the investigation's scope had been widened and more arrests are expected in the coming days.

The incident comes as Pakistan faces growing struggles with human smuggling networks, which have become increasingly active amid economic challenges and regional instability.

In September, the United Nations launched a Network on Migration in Pakistan to strengthen migration governance and combat trafficking.

A 2023 report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union found that 24,000 Pakistanis had entered EU countries illegally over the past three years.

The report also noted a sharp rise in irregular migration attempts toward the UK, USA and Australia, as smugglers exploit vulnerable populations with promises of employment and better living conditions abroad.