The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has installed visa verification system at the Torkham zero point in order to check the illegal entry of Afghan nationals to Pakistan. FIA Assistant Director Yasar Arafat informed mediapersons that the new system would facilitate easy entry of Afghans with valid travel documents to Pakistan. It will also discourage and effectively prevent human trafficking via the Torkham border.
He said that an organized group of human smugglers was involved in bringing in Afghans without legal travel documents through alternate routes. It was a huge security risk. These Afghan nationals or other suspected persons would easily dodge the immigration process at the arrival hall. The installation of a new visa verification system at the zero point would enable the immigration staff to check and detect fake travel documents. It will also expedite the process for genuine travelers, minimizing the risk of entry for suspected persons with dubious travel documents.
According to an estimate, 3,000 to 5,000 passengers cross the border daily. To efficiently manage this influx and minimise delays, additional FIA staff has been deployed, and multiple counters have been set up.
Meanwhile, customs staff seized smuggled Indian medicines worth Rs2 million from a truck at the Torkham border. Customs officials said that the medicines were concealed under soapstone, which was imported from Afghanistan. The truck driver was arrested and vehicle was impounded.
These proactive measures are geared towards expediting the repatriation of Afghan citizens. In the recent weeks more than 60,000 Afghan nationals voluntarily returned to Afghanistan.
Pakistan has set a deadline for illegal Afghan nationals to exit the country by October 30, underscoring the government’s commitment to border security and immigration control.
