Large groups of Afghan migrants, forcibly deported from Pakistan, have begun arriving in their homeland through the Torkham checkpoints in Nangarhar province and Spinboldak in Kandahar province.
Pakistan begins campaign to deport one million Afghan refugees
Pakistan begins campaign to deport one million Afghan refugees
Tolo News reported that Pakistan has deported approximately 700 Afghan families, each comprising up to 10 people, via the Torkham border crossing over the past four days. On Saturday alone, more than 250 families were forcibly deported to Afghanistan.
Authorities in Nangarhar province confirm that they are fully prepared to provide the necessary services to the displaced Afghans.
Deputy Governor Azizullah Mustafa said, "Among these returnees are many men whose families, businesses, and money remained in Pakistan. Women are being recorded as returning alone, while their husbands remain on the other side. Their situation at the checkpoint has become extremely difficult."
Some deported migrants say the Pakistani government promised to postpone the forced deportation until April 10, but has nevertheless begun carrying it out. During the process, homes are searched and women, children, and men are detained indiscriminately for deportation.
Mohammad Yousuf, an Afghan who was forcibly deported, said he had lived in Islamabad for 32 years but was still deported. He noted that his father, who was arrested in the raid, remains in prison.
Days ago, reports emerged that Pakistani authorities had begun a campaign to forcibly repatriate nearly one million Afghan refugees, ignoring calls from international human rights groups to exclude those who might be at risk of persecution by the Taliban regime.
"Police are detaining Afghans in detention camps before transporting them to the border," said Zulkilfli Hussain, an official with the Pakistani Interior Ministry, where the deadline for voluntary repatriation expires this week. According to Pakistani police, most of the arrests have taken place in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but some families have been transferred from the capital, Islamabad, and the neighboring city of Rawalpindi to the camps.
According to official data, Pakistan began the forced repatriation of illegal Afghans in November 2023, and approximately 900,000 people have been deported since then.