Pakistan arrests 41 Afghan refugees in northwest crackdown

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Crackdown against Afghan refugees continues in northwest Pakistan and police have arrested 41 more Afghan refugees living there illegally.

Operations Police Chief Karim Khan said the crackdown against illegal Afghan migrants and saboteurs is underway in the North West Frontier Province.

So far 41 Afghan refugees, including 21 drug-peddlers and four runaways have been nabbed, the police chief said.

Police has also recovered 13 pistols, one Kalashnikov and six kg of narcotics from the accused, Karim added.

According to a UN official, Pakistan, Afghanistan and UN refugee agency are working closely for a comprehensive strategy of voluntary repatriation of the millions of Afghan refugees exiling in Pakistan.