Lukashenko opens door to Pakistani migrants amid border crisis

Lukashenko invites Pakistanis: the new migration card against the EU

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has formalised an invitation to Pakistani citizens to relocate to Belarus, according to reports in regional media. The move, which adds to a strategy of migration pressure on the European Union, comes at a moment of maximum tension on the border with Poland.

The context of the tunnels under the border

At the end of October 2025, the Polish Border Guard discovered the second tunnel so far this year under the line separating Poland from Belarus. Polish authorities denounced that these passages are used by migrants to evade controls and enter EU territory illegally. The find took place in the Podlachia region and highlights the sophistication of the networks operating in the area.

Lukashenko has long been accused of weaponising immigration as a geopolitical tool. The invitation to citizens of Pakistan only reinforces that perception. The route, which traditionally passed through the Middle East and Turkey, is now being diverted towards Eastern Europe.

Clashing readings of Lukashenko's move

Those who defend the Belarusian regime argue that it is a response to Western sanctions and political interference. According to this view, Lukashenko is forced to look for alternatives because a colour revolution is looming over him. His critics, on the contrary, see in this manoeuvre a capitulation to the interests of the EU and NATO, as well as a betrayal of the Russian alliance.

Some analysts maintain that the migratory flow is coordinated to overwhelm Poland's reception capacity and create a humanitarian crisis that weakens Brussels. The concrete figure: by October 2025, two underground tunnels had already been discovered, infrastructure that requires time and planning, suggesting a premeditated plan.

Reactions and consequences

The invitation to Pakistanis has provoked mixed reactions in the public debate. While some interpret it as a sign of the regime's weakness, others see it as a calculated move to increase pressure on the EU27. The tone of the discussions reflects extreme polarisation: from those who accuse Lukashenko of having sold out to the West to those who brand him a Moscow pawn.

What seems clear is that Belarus has become a key link in the migration routes towards Europe. The discovery of the tunnels is not an isolated event, but part of a strategy that combines official invitations with the facilitation of illegal entry. If Lukashenko's bet is to provoke a crisis that allows him to negotiate from a stronger position, time will tell whether it works. For now, the data from October 2025 indicate that the border remains wide open.