Pakistani security forces detained 72 Afghan nationals in the Chagai area of Balochistan, citing a lack of legal travel documents, according to reports from local media. The arrests were carried out by the Levies Forces, a paramilitary unit operating in Pakistan’s tribal regions.
A senior Levies officer, quoted by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, stated that the detained Afghans were deported back to Afghanistan after their documentation status was reviewed.
The official added that over the course of 2024, the unit conducted 10 joint operations, arresting 3,826 Afghan nationals, including 2,779 men, 338 women, and 290 children, at various crossing points.
Pakistan has implemented a “one-document regime” for border crossings, requiring valid passports and visas for all movement at key crossings, including Chaman, one of the busiest border points between the two countries.
The latest arrests add to growing concerns among Afghan migrants in Pakistan, who have repeatedly complained about mistreatment by Pakistani authorities. On Monday and Tuesday, dozens of Afghan migrants in Islamabad were reportedly detained for lacking sufficient travel documents.
