The federal government has launched a strategic initiative to neutralize the influence of thousands of Pakistani terrorists currently operating from Afghan soil.
In a high-level meeting held in Islamabad, federal authorities finalized plans to map these individuals and formally revoke their Pakistani citizenship.
The federal government has instructed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Passport Department to compile comprehensive data on these militants. This directive targets individuals affiliated with banned outfits, including:
- Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
- Daesh (IS-K)
- Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group
- Other organizations involved in cross-border terrorism.
Once the mapping process concludes, the government will issue a formal notification to cancel the official identification documents, including ID cards and passports, of the identified individuals.
Over 5,000 Individuals Identified
Initial reports confirm that authorities have already identified more than 5,000 terrorists for citizenship revocation. Security records indicate that many of these individuals fled to Afghanistan following Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan in 2014.
The government is now coordinating with all four provinces to refine this database. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, officials have compiled a list of approximately 702 terrorists with active bounties (head money) to include in the mapping project.
Restricting International Mobility, Logistics
The revocation of citizenship would help to cripple the logistics and movement of these militants. By cancelling their legal identity, the state ensures these individuals cannot:
- Travel internationally to other countries.
- Perform religious pilgrimages such as Umrah.
- Access official services or obtain mobile SIM cards.
The government intends to expand the scope of this project as more militants residing in Afghanistan are identified, effectively stripping them of their legal standing and restricting their ability to conduct terrorist activities.
