Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, during a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, connected the surge in terror incidents in Pakistan to the Afghan government’s assumption of power in 2021. He claimed that the ongoing deportation of what he referred to as “illegal immigrants” is linked to counter-terrorism efforts.

Kakar expressed that the Pakistani government had initially hoped that after the establishment of the interim Afghan government in August 2021, Afghan soil would not be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan. They anticipated that the Afghan Taliban government would bring about long-term peace in the neighboring country.

“We had hoped that strict action would be taken against groups opposing Pakistan, especially the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and that they would not be allowed to utilize Afghan soil against Pakistan,” Kakar stated.

“Regrettably, following the formation of the interim Afghan government, there has been a 60% increase in terror incidents and a 500% rise in suicide attacks in Pakistan,” he added.

Kakar went on to report that over the past two years, 2,267 innocent lives were lost due to this tragic violence, with the TTP terrorists being held responsible.

“During this period, 15 Afghan citizens were also found to be involved in suicide attacks, and 64 Afghan citizens lost their lives while fighting Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies during the counterterrorism campaign,” he added. However, he did not provide specific details about the alleged involvement of Afghan nationals in any particular terror attack.

The interim Prime Minister’s statement comes in the wake of multiple recent incidents of terrorism, including an attack on the Mianwali Training Air Base claimed by the Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, an ambush in Gwadar reportedly attributed to the Balochistan Liberation Front, and clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa involving individuals allegedly affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP).

On November 1, the federal government initiated a crackdown against Afghan nationals described as “undocumented,” essentially individuals seeking refuge in the country while awaiting legal formalities. Since November 1, 2023, the state has launched a campaign to forcibly deport approximately 1.3 million such individuals.

This move has faced substantial criticism from human rights organizations and civil society members.