TORKHAM: The deportation of illegal Afghan citizens from Pakistan resumed on Thursday after a 31-day suspension, due to the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, officials confirmed that the process restarted at the Torkham border.
They said that fifty Afghan nationals detained by the security authorities while residing unlawfully in Pakistan were sent back to Afghanistan after completing all necessary formalities in the holding camp.
Earlier, all relevant departments had been directed to ensure full preparedness and submit their “ready status” reports by Thursday, 9:00 a.m.
Following resuming the crossing, scores of detainees (Afghan citizens) were repatriated to their homeland however the deported families had been approaching the border so far, border officials said.
Additional security measures had been adopted to avoid any untoward incidents, officials informed.
According to the officials, only individuals arriving from the Hamza Baba, complex holding camp will be allowed to cross the border under a controlled mechanism.
On the other hand, the Afghan officials welcomed the initiative of the Pakistan government to reopen the border for Afghan families returning to their country.
They also assumed their duties across the border to facilitate the repatriated Afghan nationals, sources said.
Operation Ghazab Lil Haq resumes against Afghan Taliban after Eidul Fitr pause
Earlier, security sources confirmed on Wednesday the resumption of Operation Ghazab Lil Haq following a brief strategic pause observed in respect of Eid-ul-Fitr and diplomatic requests from brotherly Islamic nations. The temporary ceasefire concluded at midnight between March 23 and 24, marking a return to active kinetic operations.
The military campaign was initiated last month as a direct response to renewed hostilities along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, triggered by unprovoked firing from Afghan Taliban forces. Pakistani troops had launched swift retaliatory strikes at the time, leading to the current sustained operation.
According to security officials, the campaign remains a “precise and targeted” military effort aimed at dismantling terrorist leadership and neutralising command infrastructures within areas controlled by the Afghan Taliban regime. The operation specifically targets logistics networks, facilitators, and abettors of terror proxies operating across the border.
Authorities asserted that the offensive will persist until all strategic objectives are met. Issuing a stern advisory, sources stated that the Afghan Taliban regime must “reassess its priorities,” urging Kabul to shift its focus from harbouring terror elements toward the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability with Pakistan.
