The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistani police have arrested 58 Afghan nationals, including women and children, in the southwestern province of Balochistan as they allegedly attempted to travel to Iran with the help of smugglers, officials said.
Balochistan police officials said the Afghans were detained in the Kech district while attempting to cross through Pakistan toward Iran. The detainees were handed over to police centers for further legal proceedings, the officials said.
Authorities said security measures aimed at preventing human trafficking and illegal border crossings are continuing in the region.
The arrests come as millions of Afghans have left the country in recent years, with many traveling to neighboring Pakistan and Iran. International organizations have reported persistent poverty, unemployment and limited economic opportunities in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
The United Nations has said Afghanistan's economy continues to face low levels of economic activity, widespread poverty and high unemployment.
Many Afghans who have moved to Pakistan and Iran have done so in search of work and to support their families.
