50 Afghan children deported after ‘illegally’ crossing Torkham border

LANDIKOTAL: The Pakistani authorities on Monday deported 50 Afghan children including girls, who were caught illegally crossing the Torkham border, as they were allegedly involved in smuggling, police said on Monday.

Station House Officer Adnan Khan Afridi said that the children were detained after they entered Pakistan through a broken fence near the Torkham border. He said they were brought to the Landikotal Police Station where a tribal jirga intervened and secured their release on humanitarian grounds.

According to Adnan Afridi, more than 700 Afghan children including girls aged six to 14 years attempted to cross the border illegally every day. Many of them were unknowingly used for smuggling contraband, including narcotics and other prohibited items.

Adnan Afridi stated that the minors frequently damaged the border fence and attempted to enter Pakistan without documentation. He said the police could have taken legal action under the Foreigners Act, but considering the tribal jirga’s request, they decided to deport them instead.

Afridi added that Afghan authorities had been repeatedly informed about the issue but had not taken any measure to prevent such incidents. He noted that many of these children risked their lives and had been involved in accidents while trying to cross the busy border route. He said a number of children were killed and many injured when they were run over by heavy trucks in a bid to hide from police to smuggle illegal goods.

Tehsil Chairman Shah Khalid Shinwari criticized the use of children for illegal activities, calling it a violation of both legal and moral standards. He urged Afghan parents to ensure their children received an education rather than being exploited in smuggling networks.

The tribal jirga played a key role in securing the children’s release, citing humanitarian concerns, particularly during Ramazan. Jirga member Malik Tajuddin Shinwari thanked the police and Frontier Corps North for cooperating and respecting tribal customs.

Other jirga members, including Customs Clearing Agents Association President Mujeeb Shinwari, Zakir Shinwari and Haji Jaber Shinwari, were also present during the discussions.

They emphasized the importance of resolving the issue through diplomatic and administrative measures.The jirga members urged Afghan authorities to take responsibility for preventing the exploitation of children in cross-border smuggling. They warned that if the trend continued, strict action would be taken in the future.

The Pakistani security forces have increased border monitoring to curb illegal crossings and smuggling activities. Authorities have also warned that repeated offenders could face legal consequences under immigration and smuggling laws.Officials reiterated their call for better coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan to address the issue and ensure that children were not used for illegal activities at the border.