ISLAMABAD/BRUSSELS — In a landmark development for international border security and migration management, the Government of Pakistan has announced a significant victory in its war against human trafficking networks. Following a year of intensified law enforcement operations, the Ministry of Interior Pakistan has reported a 47 percent reduction in illegal immigration attempts to Europe in 2025 compared to the previous year.
This statistic was unveiled during a high-stakes bilateral meeting held in Brussels on December 11, 2025, between Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, and the European Commission for Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner, Magnus Brunner. The figures represent a major turning point in the management of irregular migration flows from South Asia to the European Union, a corridor that has historically been fraught with peril and exploitation.
The Scale of the Crackdown: Zero Tolerance in Action
The substantial drop in illegal migration figures is not a statistical anomaly but the direct result of a calculated and aggressive strategy adopted by Islamabad. Interior Minister Naqvi confirmed that Pakistani law enforcement agencies have arrested over 1,770 human smugglers and their agents in 2025 alone.
This nationwide operation has been spearheaded by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which is the primary investigative agency responsible for border control and anti-human trafficking in Pakistan. The FIA’s Red Book, which lists the most wanted criminals, was updated in September to include over 100 notorious traffickers operating out of key hubs in Punjab and the federal capital, Islamabad.
The government’s “zero-tolerance” policy was necessitated by the growing complexity of these criminal networks. According to official reports, these arrests were not limited to low-level foot soldiers; the crackdown targeted the financial backbones and logistical masterminds of transnational syndicates who facilitate the movement of people through forged documents and illicit border crossings. By disrupting the supply chain of these criminal enterprises, Pakistan has effectively choked the flow of irregular migrants at the source.
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The “Dunki” Phenomenon: Dismantling the Routes of Death
Central to this crackdown is the dismantling of the so-called “dunki” routes. In local parlance, “dunki” refers to the illegal and highly dangerous method of moving people across borders—often on foot, inside cargo containers, or on unseaworthy vessels—to reach Europe, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
These routes are notoriously treacherous. They typically involve traversing the rugged terrains of Iran and Turkey before attempting the perilous sea crossing into Greece or Italy via the Mediterranean. The Interior Ministry noted that the 47 percent reduction specifically applies to attempts made via these irregular routes.
The Pakistani government has engaged the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment to simultaneously promote legal pathways for migration, attempting to discourage citizens from handing their life savings—and often their lives—over to smugglers. However, the allure of the “dunki” route has persisted due to economic instability, making the state’s enforcement actions critical in preventing loss of life.
The Shadow of Pylos: The Catalyst for Change
The urgency of Pakistan’s current enforcement regime is deeply rooted in recent tragedy. The policy shift accelerated dramatically following the horrific boat disaster in June 2023 off the coast of Pylos, Greece. An overcrowded trawler carrying an estimated 750 migrants capsized, resulting in one of the deadliest shipwrecks in the Mediterranean.
It was later confirmed that at least 262 victims were Pakistani nationals. The tragedy sparked national outrage and forced a reckoning within the corridors of power in Islamabad. In the aftermath, the government amended the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act to include harsher penalties and granted the FIA broader powers to prosecute those facilitating these journeys. The current success rate cited by Minister Naqvi is the long-term dividend of the legislative and operational changes triggered by that disaster.
EU-Pakistan Cooperation: A Model for Global Migration
The reduction in illegal flows has been met with high praise from European officials. During the meeting in Brussels, EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner termed Pakistan’s measures as “exemplary.” Migration remains a politically sensitive and logistically challenging issue for the European Union, and cooperation with key origin and transit countries like Pakistan is a pillar of the EU’s migration strategy.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) has long advocated for better border management partnerships. In this latest dialogue, Pakistan and the EU agreed to deepen their information-sharing protocols. This involves real-time intelligence exchange regarding the movement of known traffickers and the identification of emerging smuggling routes.
Commissioner Brunner is expected to visit Pakistan in the near future to formally acknowledge these efforts and discuss the next phase of the partnership. This visit will likely focus on capacity building, funding for border security infrastructure, and potential agreements on legal labour migration to disincentivize illegal attempts.
The Nexus of Crime: Smuggling, Drugs, and Terrorism
A critical aspect of Minister Naqvi’s briefing in Brussels was the acknowledgment of the complex “nexus” between different forms of organized crime. The Minister highlighted that human smuggling is not an isolated activity; the same networks that smuggle people are often deeply entwined with drug mafias and militant groups.
Money generated from human smuggling—often amounting to thousands of dollars per person—is frequently laundered and used to finance other illicit activities, including terrorism. By targeting human smugglers, the Pakistani state is effectively disrupting the financial lifelines of broader criminal and terrorist syndicates. This perspective aligns with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) framework, which views human trafficking as a transnational security threat rather than just a migration issue.
Technological Leap: AI-Based Screening Coming in 2026
Looking ahead, Pakistan is set to revolutionize its border control mechanisms through technology. In a move to stay ahead of sophisticated forgers, the government has announced the implementation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based immigration screening system.
Scheduled to roll out in Islamabad in January 2026, this system represents a significant leap forward in border security. The technology will utilize advanced algorithms to detect forged travel documents, flag suspicious travel patterns, and identify individuals on watchlists with greater accuracy than manual checks.
This initiative is part of a broader digitalization drive within the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports. By automating detection, the government aims to eliminate human error and corruption at departure points, ensuring that no individual can board a flight with compromised documentation. This technological layer will serve as the final filter in a multi-layered security apparatus designed to seal the country’s borders against illegal exit.
The report of a 47 percent decline in illegal immigration to Europe is a significant milestone for Pakistan. It reflects a maturing of the country’s security apparatus and a successful diplomatic alignment with the European Union. However, officials acknowledge that the battle is ongoing. As smugglers adapt their tactics and economic push factors remain, the sustainability of these gains will depend on the continued vigilance of the Ministry of Interior, the successful deployment of AI technology, and sustained international cooperation to dismantle the transnational networks that profit from human desperation.
