Pakistan Renews Crackdown On Afghan Immigrants Amid Escalation, Carries Out Raids In Several Cities

Last Updated:February 28, 2026, 08:52 IST

According to sources, some of those detained are accused of producing propaganda videos for the Afghan Taliban or providing logistical and ideological support to TTP and Taliban.

Pakistan has kicked off a renewed crackdown on Afghan citizens and immigrants amid escalating tensions with Afghanistan following the February 26 cross-border strikes. Late-night police raids were carried out in Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi and several other cities, with dozens of Afghan nationals reportedly arrested and set for deportation.

Pakistani authorities have officially launched an operation targeting Afghan nationals residing in Quetta, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and other border areas. According to security sources, some of those detained are accused of producing propaganda videos for the Afghan Taliban or providing logistical and ideological support to Taliban and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. However, police from Islamabad, Punjab, KP, Sindh and Balochistan have not yet released consolidated or official data on the total number of arrests.

The fresh crackdown comes against the backdrop of worsening ties between Islamabad and Kabul. On February 26, Pakistan carried out strikes inside Afghanistan, claiming to target TTP hideouts along the border. Afghan authorities condemned the action and alleged civilian casualties, sharply criticising Islamabad. Since then, cross-border tensions have intensified, with militant violence inside Pakistan surging and diplomatic exchanges turning increasingly hostile.

Following the spike in tensions, Islamabad and Rawalpindi police have resumed detentions of Afghan citizens, particularly in urban centres. Sources among Afghan migrants said police have instructed homeowners in Islamabad to evict Afghan tenants immediately, warning of strict action if non-compliance continues. Similar reports have emerged from Rawalpindi and parts of Punjab.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police conducted late-night raids on houses occupied by Afghan immigrants, detaining several individuals. In Balochistan, authorities arrested dozens of Afghans in Quetta during search operations. Karachi and other cities in Sindh also witnessed security sweeps targeting undocumented foreigners.

Officials maintain that the operation is aimed at national security and at dismantling networks allegedly linked to militancy. However, the move has sparked fear among Afghan refugee communities, many of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades after fleeing successive conflicts in Afghanistan.

News world Pakistan Renews Crackdown On Afghan Immigrants Amid Escalation, Carries Out Raids In Several Cities

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