LAHORE: The Punjab Police have increased their crackdown against Afghan refugees by carrying out a large operation since Saturday and detaining more than 2,772 people in the last 24 hours, which resulted in the deportation of 1,336 people back to Afghanistan.
The police began operations, primarily targeting Afghan nationals, to identify and deport all illegal foreign nationals residing in the province. To facilitate the deportation process, the Punjab Police has opened 46 holding centers throughout the province.
Policemen are also securing the centers along with other local law enforcement officials and under the direct supervision of Inspector General (IG) Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, however, the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took a starkly different approach by proclaiming that Afghan refugees will not be forcibly removed or thrown out at the border. He asserted that his government wouldn’t deport Afghan migrants until the Afghan government agreed to accept them back into their country.
Chief Minister Gandapur asserted the need to negotiate with Afghanistan and presented the fact that he views the concern of militancy . . . that negotiating with the Taliban is essential.
In summary, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa present contrasting approaches to the situation with Afghan refugees. Punjab appears to be focused on deporting refugees, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is taking a diplomatic approach that seeks to acquire agreement from the Afghan government first.
