October 20, 2008	Monday	Shawwal 20, 1429

KOHAT, Oct 19: Security forces arrested 32 Afghans from a Quetta-bound bus near Darra Adam Khel on Sunday for illegally entering Pakistan.

Hailing from different parts of Afghanistan, the Afghans were going to Quetta without valid documents after entering Pakistan through the Torkham border in Khyber Agency.

The Afghans belonged to different ethnic groups. One of them was Uzbek, 10 Tajiks, 15 Hazara and six Puhsto-speaking. They were taken into custody and shifted to an unknown place. They were all unarmed and told security forces that they had come to Pakistan in search of jobs.

Over the past three days, security agencies have arrested 210 foreigners in Kohat, Darra Adamkhel, Kotal and Spina Thana. They were being interrogated by personnel of intelligence agencies and were not handed over to police.

All Afghans entering Pakistan illegally now face immediate arrest as the interior ministry has told the four provincial governments that all Afghans staying illegally should be immediately deported because most of them are involved in terrorist and criminal activities in different parts of the country.

Officials said the Afghans would be booked under the Foreigner’s Act and deported after the interrogation.