Nine Pakistani nationals have been deported from Poland after a failed attempt to enter the European Union through the Belarus route, a case that has renewed concerns over irregular migration networks and the financial and emotional toll such journeys impose on families.
According to official details, the nine men were flown from Kraków-Balice Airport on June 29 aboard a Polish military transport aircraft after Polish authorities issued enforceable return orders. The Polish Border Guard said the individuals were found without valid residence documents after crossing the Poland-Belarus border in violation of immigration regulations.
The deportees were identified as Atif Shah, Manzar Khan, Salman Ali, Muhammad Wasim Khan, Mehmood Shah, Atif Ullah, Taimoor Ashraf, Ashfaq Khan and Asif Khan. Their identities and tracing details have been shared with Pakistani authorities. For the returnees, the deportation represents more than an immigration case. It marks the collapse of plans built on hopes of securing better livelihoods abroad.
Asif Khan, originally from Mohmand district and now living in Shabqadar, Charsadda, said he undertook the journey to improve the future of his three sons. Instead, he returned after exhausting family resources and now faces the challenge of rebuilding his finances while supporting his household. He said those arranging the trip failed to explain the risks surrounding the Belarus route or the possibility of detention and deportation.
Ashfaq Khan, a resident of Mardan, said the journey had been presented as a straightforward path into Europe. Once in Belarus, however, migrants encountered strict border controls, uncertainty and the constant fear of arrest. He added that the financial burden extended beyond the travellers, with relatives often contributing savings in the hope of supporting the entire family through migration.
Taimoor Ashraf, from Malakwal in Mandi Bahauddin district, described the experience as financially devastating and emotionally draining. He said returning home without employment or financial security was the hardest part after investing significant family resources in the failed journey.
The three returnees urged Pakistanis not to trust agents portraying Belarus as an easy gateway to the European Union, warning that many conceal the risks of arrest, detention, deportation and financial loss. While the Polish Border Guard did not disclose details about the facilitators, payments or the migrants’ stay in Belarus and Poland, the case has shifted attention toward the networks arranging such journeys.
Authorities are expected to examine who recruited the travellers, how the route was promoted and whether similar operations continue targeting Pakistani families. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) says it has strengthened intelligence-led screening and risk-based measures to curb human smuggling and irregular migration. Officials reported in June that irregular migration from Pakistan towards Europe declined during 2025 and the early months of 2026.