Unregistered Afghan settlement found in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: An unregistered camp housing dozens of Afghan nationals has reportedly been discovered in Islamabad’s Sohan Zone, raising serious security concerns over alleged illegal activity and weak enforcement.

According to official sources, several individuals residing in the makeshift settlement, consisting of tents and temporary shelters, are suspected of working as facilitators for land-grabbing networks operating across the twin cities. Intelligence agencies have already alerted Islamabad Police to suspicious movements linked to these individuals, noting that they frequently travel across the capital late at night in various vehicles.

Sources have also questioned the performance of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Islamabad, claiming that no concrete action has been taken despite repeated intelligence alerts.

When contacted, Islamabad Police spokesperson Taqi Jawad said that decisions regarding the presence, movement, and regulation of Afghan nationals fall under the jurisdiction of the district administration, adding that police only provide operational support when required. “The district administration is best positioned to comment on this matter,” he stated.

However, sources disputed this claim, asserting that the Sohan camp does not have any official authorisation and was not established under any government or state initiative for Afghan repatriation. They alleged that the camp houses undocumented Afghans involved in criminal activities, including robbery, theft, and even murder, in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The sources further revealed that multiple illegal Afghan settlements have previously been identified across the capital, but the absence of sustained enforcement has allowed their numbers to grow steadily.

On Thursday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the TTP is “Kabul’s proxy” and that Afghanistan acts as a proxy of India, alleging attacks were planned from India. He told HUM News that Pakistan’s Afghan policy is no longer ambiguous and that enemies are now identified. Asif said the Afghan Taliban requested a 48-hour ceasefire, which Pakistan did not seek, and while Islamabad would accept a permanent cessation, it remains sceptical. He accused Imran Khan of facilitating the TTP’s return and warned that PTI members siding with militants would be exposed. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed firmness on Islamabad’s demands.