By Afshain Afzal

As per the Western sources, recent surfacing of footprints of international terrorism, especially Middle East and the West has raised loud alarms causing serious concerns. The Western players are blaming Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan behind the dirty game. However, it is too early to conclude with accuracy unless remaining missing pieces of puzzle are fit in their correct places. Since decades blame was leveled of Orthodox Muslims, often referred as fundamentalist Sunni Muslims but a recent disclosure has opened everyone’s eyes as joint conspires by other religious groups including Shi’ites have been surfaced. One wonders if they are really involved in terrorism and linked with Daish and ISIS or not.

In the recent development, warning shots have been fired for Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan with regard to their conspiracy to destabilize Middle East and North Africa. It is strange that Iran expelled several million Shi’ite Afghan refugees from 2007 till today but where are they? Just a fraction of said refugees are in Afghanistan so where are the rest? As regard to Pakistan, every year, thousands of Pakistani pilgrims travel to Iran, Iraq and Syria to visit religious shrines in these and other countries. Many of the Shi’ite Afghan also get Pakistan Computerized National Identity Cards through NADRA and flee to other countries. An official of NADRA contacted disclosed that there is no employment policy here at NADRA. Acquaintances of higher ups are given high salary temporary and Contract jobs without the approval of Federal Public Service Commission. The commit frauds and are never accountable as they are not permanent employees. He confirmed their involvement in preparation of fake cards.

It was worth concern that in mid July 2025, Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said, “Pakistan government was not keeping record of 40,000 Pakistani Shia Zaireen who did not return from Iraq, Iran and Syria”. Last year, on 24 July 2024, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain shared horrifying figures that more than 50,000 Pakistani Zaireen, who went to Iraq for religious purposes did not return. For a second if we believe that these illegal absconders are not involved in terrorism we cannot ignore that the European Union (EU) and Pakistan have a readmission agreement that establishes the mutual obligation to readmit their nationals who do not, or no longer, fulfill the conditions for entry, presence, or residence in the other's territory. This agreement also covers the readmission of third-country nationals and stateless persons under certain conditions.

It is too early to blame Pakistani Shi’ites for their involvement in terrorism. But even in case they are not terrorists, such people may cause heavy burden on Government of Pakistan if they have fled to Europe for better living. According to the agreement Pakistan has to bear all expenditure for their repatriation in case it is proved that Pakistan allowed them to use their soil to proceed abroad or embark without authorization. The concern from Western countries is not without substance as terrorism is curse and equally dangerous are illegals residents. Pakistani authorities must cooperate with international community to track down these tens and thousands of Zaireen who fled to other countries not only to defame Pakistan but their involvement in crimes has seriously put peace at stake.