ZHOB, BALOCHISTAN - Pakistan authorities have apprehended 103 illegal Afghan nationals in Zhob, Balochistan, in a major intelligence-based operation targeting human smuggling networks.

🚨🇵🇰 BIG CRACKDOWN AGAINST ILLEGAL AFGHANS!

Pakistan authorities apprehended 103 illegal Afghan nationals in Zhob, Balochistan.

72 males, 11 females & 20 children were caught attempting to bypass Danasar Check Post.

Operation Afghan cleanup is all We need! pic.twitter.com/HY9tGsQPMm

- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) September 23, 2026

103 Detained at Danasar Check Post

According to security sources, the group was intercepted while attempting to bypass the Danasar Joint Check Post in the Sherani district. Among those detained were 72 males, 11 females, and 20 children.

The group was reportedly attempting to reach Iran and onward to European countries with the assistance of human smugglers operating in the region. All detained individuals have been handed over to police authorities for further legal and administrative processing.

129 Intercepted in One Week

Security officials confirmed that this operation brings the total number of illegal Afghan nationals intercepted in the past week to 129. Authorities have intensified surveillance of unofficial routes and "kacha" tracks used by smugglers to evade official checkpoints.

Broader Repatriation Context

The operation is part of Pakistan's ongoing enforcement of the Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan (IFRP) , under which any foreign national without valid documentation is liable for deportation. Since the plan's launch in September 2023, more than 2.7 million Afghan nationals have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan, according to UNHCR and IOM data.

Pakistan has consistently maintained that the repatriation drive is a matter of national security and immigration enforcement, not targeting any specific nationality. Officials have cited the use of Afghan soil by militant groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan as a key security concern.

Operation Continues

Security forces have reaffirmed that operations against human smuggling networks and illegal border crossings will continue until the networks are completely dismantled.