Authorities in Balochistan on Sunday intercepted 29 Afghan migrants in Turbat during a joint operation by the police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The group was attempting to cross into Iran as part of an illegal journey to Europe.
Operation details
Police officials said the migrants were travelling in a Land Cruiser on the outskirts of Turbat when law-enforcement teams stopped the vehicle. The group included 12 men, 13 children and 4 women, along with two suspected smugglers who were facilitating the route through remote desert tracks.
SSP Kech Captain Zohaib Mohsin told Balochistan Pulse that the operation was conducted after police received intelligence reports about an attempt to move migrants towards the Iran border. He said the vehicle was intercepted before it could reach a known smuggling route.
Migrants handed over to FIA
According to initial findings, the Afghan migrants planned to travel from Pakistan to Iran and then proceed to Europe through organised human-smuggling networks. Officials handed the detainees over to the FIA for further interrogation and verification of documents.
Authorities have launched a wider investigation to identify the network involved in the illegal movement. Police expect more arrests in the coming days as the probe expands.
Rise in illegal migration
Pakistan continues to face challenges in curbing human-smuggling routes, especially in Balochistan where remote terrain makes border monitoring difficult. Economic pressures and regional instability have contributed to a rise in attempts to enter Iran and Turkey for onward travel to Europe.
In September, the United Nations launched a Network on Migration in Pakistan to support efforts against trafficking and irregular migration.
A 2023 UNODC and European Union report showed that nearly 24,000 Pakistanis entered Europe illegally in the past three years. The UK, United States and Australia have also seen rising migration flows linked to smuggling networks.
Authorities warn against illegal travel
Officials urged people to avoid illegal migration routes, stressing that smugglers exploit vulnerable families and put lives at risk. Authorities in Balochistan continue operations against networks operating across border regions.
