Caught in the middle: Three Afghan nationals detained in Zhob

Officials say immigrants were not associated with any militant group

QUETTA: Three illegal Afghan immigrants were arrested on Sunday by Balochistan Levies personnel in Zhob district.

Local administration ruled out that the Afghan nationals, who were injured when they were arrested, were Taliban militants as no arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.

“A pickup was on its way to Dera Ismail Khan when it was intercepted by security personnel near a check post in Zhob. Upon search, police found three Afghan nationals injured with bullet wounds,” Zhob Deputy Commissioner Nazir Mohammed Kethran told The Express Tribune.



“Levies personnel arrested them when they could not provide the relevant travelling documents,” Kethran said, adding that cases were registered against them under Foreigner Acts.

The driver, a Pakistani national, was also taken into custody. “The driver said he was hired by them and he did not know much about the three Afghans,” he said.

According to initial investigations, the Afghan nationals said they were injured in a gunfight somewhere in Afghanistan and wanted to go to Pakistan for medical treatment.

“The three Afghan nationals are in custody and are being questioned,” Kethran added.

The deputy commissioner said it is common in Zhob where Afghan nationals roam around without legal travelling documents. “We have registered cases and will produce them before the Judicial Magistrate tomorrow,” Kethran added.

The arrested men were shifted to a hospital where doctors said they had also received medical assistance in Afghanistan.

“They are in stable condition and can walk and talk because their wounds are day or two old,” Levies officials quoted the doctors as saying.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2014.