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Afghan refugees along with their belongings waiting to departure for Afghanistan, at a holding centre near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman on April 10, 2025. —AFP
#Thousands #Afghans #repatriated #officials
Khyber: At least 5,236 Afghan nationals were returned to Afghanistan via the Terkham border on Thursday, immigration officials said it indicates that Afghans are returning from Pakistan.
Of the 3,865 Afghan nationals, who returned home, voluntarily arrived at Landi Kotal Transit Camp, officials said. In addition, 107 Afghan nationals who were arrested in Punjab were sent to Turkish for deportation.
In addition, officials said 295 Afghan nationals were deported from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region.
The ongoing process of return has identified Pakistan’s continued efforts to resolve the issue of illegal foreigners. In the middle of the current drive across the country, Afghan citizen card holders are also being returned to their homeland.
On Thursday, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Talal Chaudhry said that Afghan citizens are being brought back home with dignity.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Talal said that transit points were set up in all the provinces to facilitate Afghan citizens, adding that a helpline was also set up for the citizens of the neighboring country.
He maintained that the return of illegal foreign nationals, including Afghan Citizens Card holders, would continue with any extension of the deadline ending last month.
So far, 857,157 illegal foreign nationals and Afghan citizens have been repatriated to their respective countries, he said.
It is appropriate to mention here that the government gave them the deadline for leaving the country by March 31.
The minister emphasized that the term of this deadline has expired and there will be no further extension in this regard.
The minister added, “A document government will be fully implemented, which will require accurate visas and passports to enter Pakistan.”
He said that Afghan citizens who are returning home can find, work and stay in Pakistan under a documentary policy policy, provided they have accurate visas and passports.
Talal reminded that a policy of repatriation for illegal foreign nationals is in force from October 30, 2023.
He said the return will be completed in the stages. In the first phase, illegal foreign nationals were sent back to their countries without legal documents. In the second phase, Afghan citizen card holders are being repatriated to their homeland, while in the third phase, Afghan citizens have evidence of registration card.
The minister highlighted that Pakistan made this decision after hosting millions of Afghan brothers for decades. He explained that the decision was taken in light of the current ground facts. The Minister added that it has been observed that Afghan citizens are involved in drug trade and terrorism activities in Pakistan.
He added that the income generated by drugs is used for funds for criminal and terror activities.
Talking to internal arrangements to ensure the dignity of Afghan citizen card holders, Talal said that all provinces, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit -Baltistan, are fully on the board with the move.
He said that 38 transit points have been set up in Punjab, three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two in Sindh, three in Azad Kashmir, one in Balochistan, Islamabad, and one in Gilgit -Baltistan. The minister further elaborated that before traveling to Afghanistan, Afghan citizen card holders are kept at these facilities. He assured that Afghan citizen card holders are being provided asylum, food, medical care and transportation facilities, while their honor and dignity is being maintained during the return process.
Given the data of registered Afghan citizens, the minister said that 815,247 Afghan as urban card holders were registered while 1,469,522 was registered under the proof of the registration program.
