When neighbors not only turn a blind eye to their own criminal problems but also actively promote them, what are the consequences? The recent action by Pakistan to neutralize an international human trafficking network involving Afghans and Indians starkly reveals the shortcoming of both India and Afghanistan in their efforts to control transnational crime within their nations. In consequence, Pakistan has strengthened its role as a leader in the region on this matter, sharply differing from the apathy of its neighbors. The closing down of this network is not only a triumph for Pakistan; it is a significant regional security achievement as well. The swift actions of Pakistan have been significant, but the engagement of Indian and Afghan nationals suggests considerable weaknesses in both countries’ governance systems. This trafficking network is specifically devoted to creating false documents, comprising passports and visas, utilizing the desperation of those seeking improved lives abroad. Pakistani law enforcement uncovered a shocking reality: this was not simply a profit-oriented scam, but an element of a larger strategy to undercut Pakistan’s position on the global stage.
Afghanistan’s impact on this network is extremely troubling. The Afghan nationals’ use of the network to search for false political asylum in Pakistan uncovers a further element of the Taliban’s incapacity to oversee its own boundaries and population. The way in which Afghanistan takes advantage of Pakistan’s already strained asylum accommodations underscores the risk created by instability in the region. Another issue of concern is the network’s ability to duplicate counterfeit documents, exacerbating challenges for Pakistan’s humanitarian responses and adding further strain to a struggling system. India, in contrast, faces serious charges, too. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Pakistan found Indian nationals involved, indicating possible deliberate maneuvers to destabilize Pakistan. Research indicated that Indian facilitators made use of illegal networks through Dubai to enable individuals to enter India with counterfeit documents—some of which had fraudulent Indian government stamps. This raises the question: was this simply criminal opportunism or a strategic initiative by some to ruin Pakistan’s image? India’s not being an active part of human trafficking networks indicates a disturbing degree of participation, which could produce serious diplomatic repercussions.
Aside from geopolitical penalty, human trafficking costs a great deal to society. The trafficking networks target the most helpless persons taking advantage of people who engage themselves in unlawful migration. The effects are social, and not simply the ramifications for the victims, but also for Pakistan’s economic systems, too. This is money channeled out of the legitimate economy, money that is not available to pay for nation building. In addition, these operations deny entities the human capital that can foster genuine learning. Healthy and young adults in particular who could otherwise be productive member for the growth of Pakistan’s economy are enticed by fake promises of better paying jobs only to fall victims to human smugglers. The compounded loss from this exploitation goes on to operate through a secondary process: it erodes social capital, as the brightest from a community are taken by traffickers. These networks take advantage of hope to lure families, who after spending all their money hiring smugglers only end up deported or seeing their loved ones imprisoned or disappear into the black market.
Although Pakistan law enforcement agencies specifically FIA has in breaking this particular network, eradicating human trafficking is the concern of the entire world. Pakistan Interior Ministry has demanded that India and Afghanistan should hold their nationals for these crimes and must increase cooperation between regional countries. The recipients should work together in order to address the causes of human trafficking because these networks are likely to adapt in a way that will allow them to take advantage of the weaknesses within a particular region. The timely dismantling of this network in Pakistan affirms the positive compatibility and adds to its recognition as a judicious world player in crime control while its neighbors continue to ignore the nature. Trafficking networks are notorious for their ability to change within the contexts where they operate and adapt. These criminal organizations have time and again demonstrated flexibilities to adapt to change and evade arrest, and so in the absence of constant international pressure, they will continue take advantage of weaknesses within regional governance systems. However, for the problem of human trafficking to be eliminated fully, Pakistan must maintain its leadership in the passage of a collective international approach. A priority should be collaborative efforts and intelligence sharing with countries to which it connects so such nations as the UAE. Pakistan has already cracked down on trafficking by blocking through URL’s and social media restrictions under the Electronic Crimes Act of 2016 to counter trafficking taking place on social media.
The victims of these trafficking networks have close relatives relying on word of mouth this means that there is need to start from the grassroots level in form of campaigns. These campaigns must focus on the actual dangers, also debunking the lure that traffickers paint to immigrants and providing other, legal means of immigration.
Pakistan has stressed the need to continue disruption of these networks by continuing diplomatic pressure in Afghanistan and India, to urge them to stop supporting the trafficking networks. This network involved Indian and Afghan nationals and this shows the regional cross-border conflicts and criminal exploitation.
