Pakistan sets up deportation centres to hold illegal migrants

Local residents and Afghan nationals at rally in the border town of Chaman, Pakistan, on Thursday opposing a crackdown on illegal immigrants (Jafar Khan/AP)

Pakistan is setting up deportation centres for migrants in the country illegally, including an estimated 1.7 million Afghans, officials said on Thursday.

It is the latest development in a government crackdown to expel foreigners without registration or documents.