While experts in Pakistan repeatedly call for the swift repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals, the ground reality paints a completely different — and troubling — picture. In a country where money makes the mare go, a powerful human smuggling racket has come to light, exploiting the very system meant to secure national integrity.The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has unearthed a scandal involving the issuance of e-visas to Afghan citizens on the basis of fake sponsorships. The agency’s Anti-Human Smuggling Cell has registered cases against six individuals, arresting two Afghan nationals on the spot. But what’s more alarming is that the network reportedly had roots inside official institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Press Information Department (PID).According to FIA sources, a suspicious sum of over Rs. 40 million was funneled into bank accounts linked to the ring. Fake identity cards and sponsorships were used to issue e-visas — often processed within just 24 to 48 hours — bypassing all standard security protocols. Intelligence agencies were never notified.The operation was being run from car showrooms in Islamabad’s G-8 sector, where Afghan nationals paid thousands of dollars to obtain Pakistani visas. During the raid, officials recovered mobile phones, forged documents, and sensitive records.This ring wasn’t just committing fraud — it was undermining national security,” an FIA spokesperson stated. Investigations suggest more government employees could be involved, with further arrests likely.Despite public rhetoric about regulating Afghan migration, such deep-rooted corruption raises the question: how can any policy succeed when backdoors remain open for the right price?
Visa Scam Undermines Afghan Repatriation Amid Deep Systemic Corruption
