MANSEHRA: The district administration on Friday decided to launch a crackdown on illegally staying Afghans and ensure their early repatriation to their home country.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Yasir Ali Khan.

“Henceforth all Afghans living illegally anywhere in the district would be taken into custody, and repatriated to their country without delay,” Mr Khan told the meeting.

District police officer Mohammad Waqas Khan and representatives of other law enforcement agencies were also in attendance. The meeting decided to tighten checks on around 1,700 Afghan nationals still settled in parts of the district and running their businesses.

“You have to verify all those documents the Afghans have from the National Database and Registration Authority and other relevant departments, as the federal government has annulled all sorts of cards issued to Afghans last year,” Mr Khan told the participants.

DPO Waqas Khan said police were implementing the standard operating procedures laid down by the government for the repatriation of Afghans.

“We have so far repatriated 315 illegal Afghans,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2026