ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior on Sunday announced a nationwide crackdown against undocumented foreign nationals, setting July 10, 2026, as the deadline after which Afghan nationals residing illegally in the country will face immediate arrest.
According to an official notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, all Afghan nationals living in Pakistan without valid visas or legal documentation will be taken into custody as part of the government’s intensified implementation of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP).
The federal government has directed the chief secretaries and inspectors general of police of all four provinces, along with the Islamabad administration, to ensure strict enforcement of the repatriation plan.
The notification described the operation as a “top priority” and called for coordinated action by all relevant civil and law enforcement authorities.
Under the new directives, authorities will begin submitting daily reports on arrests and enforcement actions to the Ministry of Interior from July 11, enabling the federal government to closely monitor the progress of the nationwide campaign.
Officials said the operation is aimed at ensuring compliance with Pakistan’s immigration laws and accelerating the repatriation of undocumented foreign nationals, particularly Afghan citizens residing in the country without legal status.
The latest measures signal a further tightening of the government’s policy on illegal immigration, with law enforcement agencies expected to launch extensive operations across the country immediately after the July 10 deadline expires.
The directives were issued after Pakistan’s security forces thwarted a terrorist attack on a Pakistan Rangers camp in Karachi on Saturday, killing three terrorists and arresting an Afghan terrorist during their attempt to attack the camp.
According to the military’s media wing, the attack took place on the night of June 27 when India-backed terrorists struck the main entrance of a Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) camp using explosives before attempting to force their way inside the facility.
The assault was repelled by Rangers personnel guarding the installation, preventing the attackers from breaching the camp’s perimeter.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the attackers belonged to Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, an Indian proxy group.
The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar terrorist group is based in Afghanistan and sponsored by India.
The military said three terrorists were killed during the exchange of fire, while a fourth terrorist, identified as an Afghan national, was captured alive in an injured condition.
The arrested terrorist has revealed that he and his accomplices were trained in Afghanistan and sent to Pakistan by the terrorist group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar to carry out the terrorist attack.
The arrested terrorist, who identified himself as Usman Ali, said he entered Pakistan from Afghanistan seven days before the attack along with three other terrorists. He revealed that all operational arrangements for attack were made in Afghanistan before the group of terrorists travelled to Karachi.
“My name is Usman Ali and I came from the Jalalabad area of Afghanistan,” the arrested terrorist revealed in his confessional statement.
He said that three other terrorists — Abdul Hadi, Janan and Umar Farooq — accompanied him to Karachi.
“Terrorist Abdul Hadi, who came with me, has been killed,” arrested terrorist Usman said, adding, “terrorist Janan had thrown the bomb at the Pakistan Rangers camp.”
According to the arrested terrorist, he, along with his accomplices, stayed at an under-construction building after entering Pakistan. “We were kept in an under-construction building.”
“We entered Pakistan seven days ago and stayed with Abdul Hadi, who was a resident of Bajaur,” he said. “The weapons used in the attack were brought by Abdul Hadi from Waziristan.”
The arrested terrorist said he was wounded while attempting to flee. “I was shot while fleeing to the other side and fell on the spot,” he said.
“I belong to Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, whose commander in Afghanistan is named Ahrar Maulvi,” he said.
He revealed that all the terrorists of the terrorist group had received training in Afghanistan.
“All of us were trained in Afghanistan. I was only given a jacket — we prepare the suicide vests ourselves,” he revealed.
“We all prepare suicide vests ourselves — we were trained in Afghanistan beforehand.”
He further revealed that the training was provided by a terrorist identified as Umar Qari.
“The training for preparing suicide vests and other activities in Afghanistan was provided by Umar Qari,” he said.
“All arrangements were made from Afghanistan before we came to Karachi. Abdul Hadi knew everything here because he had been here before,” he said.
