Pakistan Coast Guards have arrested 123 illegal immigrants at Jiwani in Balochistan in two months, as Islamabad also steps up coordinated efforts with Iraq to regulate pilgrim travel and security.
123 Illegal Immigrants Caught Near Jiwani in Two-Month Operation
Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) have arrested 123 illegal immigrants from the Jiwani port city in Balochistan over the past two months, in a series of operations aimed at disrupting human smuggling along the coastal border with Iran. According to a PCG spokesperson, the individuals were travelling illegally between Pakistan and Iran without valid passports, visas or authorised travel permits. The arrests highlight how Pakistan’s coastline, particularly the Jiwani and Gwadar belt, continues to be used by smugglers as a transit route for irregular migration. Coast Guard officials said the detainees were intercepted during routine patrols and intelligence-based operations in and around the Jiwani area.
Detainees Handed Over to FIA for Further Investigation
After initial interrogation and verification checks, all 123 detainees were handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further investigation and legal proceedings. The spokesperson said that FIA teams will examine the detainees’ backgrounds, routes and facilitators, and determine whether organised human smuggling networks were involved in arranging their journeys. Cases are expected to be registered under relevant immigration and anti-trafficking laws, with authorities also focusing on identifying and prosecuting agents who lure people into dangerous, illegal travel plans. Officials emphasised that those found guilty of facilitating illegal migration could face serious penalties, including long prison sentences and heavy fines.
PCG Vows to Intensify Coastal Patrols Against Human Smuggling
The Pakistan Coast Guard has vowed to continue regular operations along the country’s coastline to curb human smuggling and irregular border crossings. The PCG spokesperson said that all available resources, including patrol boats, coastal surveillance and intelligence-sharing with other security agencies, are being used to target illegal routes. He added that the force remains committed to protecting Pakistan’s maritime borders and to preventing people from risking their lives through unsafe and unlawful journeys. Human smuggling along coastal routes often involves overcrowded boats, harsh conditions and a high risk of exploitation, injury or death for migrants. Officials say that by intercepting such attempts early, they not only enforce the law but also reduce the chances of tragic incidents at sea.
Pakistan and Iraq Move to Better Regulate Pilgrim Travel
The crackdown on illegal border crossings comes as Pakistan also works to improve legal travel arrangements for its citizens heading abroad, especially religious pilgrims. Earlier, Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi held an important meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, General Abdul Ameer Al-Shammari, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation and improving facilities for Pakistani pilgrims travelling to Iraq. Both ministers agreed to establish long-term and effective coordination between their interior ministries, with a focus on smooth pilgrim movements and stronger security collaboration. The Iraqi interior minister praised Pakistan’s recent steps to formally organise and regulate pilgrim groups, saying such effective measures had been taken for the first time under the current administration. He assured that all pilgrims included in the official lists provided by Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior would be granted entry into Iraq.
Stricter Controls Aim to Discourage Irregular Routes and Overstays
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that Pakistani pilgrims would not be allowed to overstay beyond their approved period in Iraq, and that institutions in both countries would remain in close contact to ensure compliance. By tightening coordination on legal pilgrim travel and cracking down on illegal crossings along the coastal border, authorities hope to draw a clear line between safe, regulated journeys and risky, irregular routes managed by smugglers. Officials argue that while genuine travellers should be facilitated through proper channels, those who try to bypass the law—whether through fake documents, unauthorised agents or dangerous maritime routes—will face strict action. The combination of stronger coastal enforcement and better-managed legal travel corridors is seen as key to reducing human smuggling, protecting vulnerable migrants and upholding Pakistan’s commitments on border security and international cooperation.
