QUETTA: Security forces have arrested 179 Afghan nationals from various areas of Chagai district in Balochistan for illegally entering Pakistan, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to administrative sources, the detained individuals include women and children. Authorities stated that the Afghan nationals had entered Pakistan through illegal routes and were later attempting to travel onward to Iran.
Officials said that cases have been registered against all detainees under the Foreigners Act, and further legal proceedings are currently underway.
The arrests come amid growing concerns over illegal migration in the region. Only days earlier, a tragic traffic accident near Nokundi in Chagai highlighted the dangers faced by undocumented migrants.
In that incident, 10 people were killed, including nine Afghan nationals who were reportedly attempting to reach Europe via Iran.
The accident occurred when a pickup vehicle collided with an oil tanker due to overspeeding. Eleven others were injured and shifted to hospitals for medical treatment.
According to SSP Chagai Muhammad Sharif Kalhoro, preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased Afghan nationals were traveling illegally in an attempt to migrate to European countries.
