Extraordinary hype on the deportation of illegal immigrants by overcharged commentators is mostly misdirected and clueless about the genuine concerns of Pakistan. Interim PM Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar had to respond to this issue through an article in the Daily Telegraph titled “Our Migrant Burden is Far Larger Than Britain’s”. It is rightly pointed out in the article that growing numbers of migrants in Pakistan have surpassed the total population of Ireland. Undeniably, the majority of immigrants are of Afghan origin and least interested in going back to their native land. The dependence of such a huge number of immigrants on the already struggling economy of Pakistan is alarmingly disturbing as well as unmanageable. A surging number of migrants and their reluctance to rejoin the homeland is also a reflection of the deteriorated internal situation of Afghanistan. Statistics about the presence of Afghan citizens in Pakistan further substantiate the much-talked-about economic, security and governance-related concerns. Out of 3.7 million Afghanis in Pakistan, only 1.3 million are registered officially and hold a ‘Proof of Registration’ (POR) card. Another 0.88 million Afghanis hold Afghan Citizenship card (ACC) issued as a one-time measure. This is obvious that 1.7 million Afghanis are roaming freely in Pakistan without fulfilling any sort of immigration or legal formalities. The dependence of such a huge number of immigrants on the already struggling economy of Pakistan is alarmingly disturbing as well as unmanageable. The matter turned more complicated with the growing cross-border terrorist attacks inside Pakistan from Afghanistan. How Pakistan can ignore a security threat of such a great magnitude? The active presence of anti-Pakistan terrorist groups on Afghan soil is no longer a deniable factor. TTP, ISKP and their multiple splinter groups have loudly claimed the responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks on unarmed civil populations which were masterminded and handled from inside Afghanistan. With no strings attached, Pakistan has always urged the rulers in Kabul to tackle the menace of terrorism without any discrimination of good or bad groups. A recent decree of Afghan scholars has forbidden misinterpreting the concept of Jihad outside Afghanistan and declared the terrorist activities of TTP, ISKP and their splinter groups against Pakistan as unIslamic. Unfortunately, Afghan governments have never paid due attention to such serious calls from Pakistan. Historic religious and cultural ties have been a binding force in the bi-lateral domain due to which Pakistan has always welcomed the Afghan migrants with open arms. Unlike many other countries, Pakistan has never forced the Afghans to remain restricted in the refugee camps. As a result, Afghan immigrants are now present in every part of Pakistan. They are doing all types of business with very little respect for the local laws of the land. Over some time, this tendency has created a parallel black market which pays zero taxes, damages local commercial activities and promotes smuggling including narco-arms trafficking. Ironically, the Interim Afghan government commonly known as the Afghan Taliban has not been cooperative in addressing the security concerns of Pakistan. It is rightly felt in Islamabad that Afghan Taliban are soft on TTP. During the recent wave of terrorism once the involvement of Afghan citizens in 16 terrorist attacks was unearthed by intelligence agencies, the interim Afghan government trivialized the concerns of Pakistan with theoretical advice of keeping the respective houses in order. The deportation drive was criticized as an anti-Afghan step of Pakistan. Before issuing fiery critical statements on the deportation drive, representatives of the Afghan interim government should try to understand that the luxury of roaming freely without legal formalities is not available to foreigners in any part of the world. Privileges misused extensively on account of undefined brotherhood by illegal Afghan immigrants have deeply wounded Pakistan. Clamping down the unregistered aliens is a belated step in the right direction. Plugging this gap is likely to curb the undetected presence of terrorists on Pakistan’s soil in the garb of refugees. Restoration of regional peace will remain a far cry unless the ruling cadre in Afghanistan adopts a rehashed stance on the concerns of neighbouring countries. Repatriation of Afghan citizens from foreign lands including Pakistan, if takes place as a top priority, would substantiate the claims of the Interim government about the restoration of economy and stability under their rule. Pakistan is continuously urging the Interim Afghan government to tackle terrorism as a shared responsibility. While staying aligned with the international community over the recognition of the Taliban regime, Pakistan has always extended cooperation to Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds. Probably, traditional humanitarian cooperation from Pakistan has been taken for granted in Kabul. The continuation of this flawed approach by Kabul has started testing the patience limit of Islamabad. It was conveyed to the Interim Afghan government through various channels that TTP and terrorism would be the red lines for Pakistan. Organizations or groups challenging the writ of the government and refusing the supremacy of the constitution would be dealt with the iron hand. Pakistan cannot allow the easy infiltration of hardcore terrorists and illegal immigrants from Afghanistan at the cost of its vital interests. The interim Afghan government should assert inward to wisely tackle the issues of immigrants, cross-border terrorism and illegal trading. Pakistan is not coercing the legally documented Afghans but rather cracking down on illegal immigrants. Decent neighbours always prefer to enter the house after knocking on the door and avoid illegal trespassing. Pakistan is precisely asking Afghanistan to act like a decent and responsible neighbour. The writer is a graduate of QAU, PhD scholar & freelance writer and can be reached at fa7263125@gmail.com