More than 800 Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan after being released from prisons in Pakistan, Afghan authorities said, as Islamabad continues its crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals under its repatriation policy.
Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said 880 Afghan migrants entered the country through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings after being released from prisons in Pakistan.
Summarising the return, the ministry said the group included families and children who had completed their detention.
“A total of 880 Afghan migrants were released from prisons in Pakistan and returned to Afghanistan through Nangarhar and Kandahar provinces,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added, “Those released included families, children, and individuals who had been imprisoned for various reasons. After completing their prison sentences, they were released.”
According to the ministry, 713 people crossed into Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar province, while another 167 returned through Spin Boldak in Kandahar province.
The ministry also said the returnees received assistance after crossing the border.
“After being registered by the Directorates of Transfer Affairs and receiving assistance from cooperating support centres, they were transported to their places of origin,” the statement said.
Pakistan has stepped up its repatriation campaign targeting undocumented foreign nationals since late 2023, a policy that has primarily affected Afghans.
Pakistani authorities say the measures are intended to enforce immigration laws and strengthen national security, maintaining that foreign nationals without legal permission to remain in the country must leave.
The United Nations and human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of the policy, warning that many Afghans returning to Afghanistan face humanitarian hardship and uncertain living conditions.
Pakistan has rejected allegations of mistreatment, saying returns are being carried out in accordance with its laws.
There was no immediate comment from Pakistani authorities on the latest group of prisoners released and returned to Afghanistan.
Georgia has secured two major financial commitments this week, with one aimed at easing road congestion around the capital and the other at strengthen...
A Turkish-owned cargo ship was struck by a drone in the Black Sea after leaving a Ukrainian port, in the latest incident to raise concerns over the sa...
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has promised that the U.S. will “pay the price” following what Iranian authorities said was a...
Saudi Arabia said its overnight strikes on Iran-backed group targets in Iraq were carried out in self-defence and warned it would take further military action if the groups launched new attacks against the kingdom.
The U.S. military said it completed its latest wave of strikes on Iran, a two-hour operation that hit dozens of targets. Washington described the strikes as a "powerful response" to Iranian missile attacks targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East a day earlier.
Thousands of migrants have crossed into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta from Morocco, overwhelming border security and prompting local authorities to call for a national emergency and military deployment.
A fire involving two gas vessels at Egypt's Damietta port has prompted conflicting reports over whether the incident was caused by a drone strike or an onboard technical fault. Egyptian authorities said there were no casualties.
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture has risen to 30, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Thursday, as water and power shortages left survivors exposed to extreme summer heat.
Georgia has secured two major financial commitments this week, with one aimed at easing road congestion around the capital and the other at strengthening the country's banking safety net.
A Turkish-owned cargo ship was struck by a drone in the Black Sea after leaving a Ukrainian port, in the latest incident to raise concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region. No information has been released on casualties or the extent of the damage.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has promised that the U.S. will “pay the price” following what Iranian authorities said was a deadly strike on a residential building on Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf that killed three members of a family.
Russia has extended its ban on exports of gasoline, diesel, marine fuel and gasoil until 31 January 2027, as Moscow seeks to stabilise its domestic fuel market, prompting Central Asian countries to strengthen fuel security and diversify supplies.
Pakistan has joined a Saudi-led multinational maritime coalition to help protect key shipping routes through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as attacks on commercial vessels continue to threaten one of the world's busiest trade and energy corridors.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment