PESHAWAR: The mass deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees continues, as thousands of migrants are heading to the Torkham border to return home after authorities intensified their crackdown against illegal immigrants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department reported that a total of 189,259 Afghan refugees have returned to their home countries as of November 7. These individuals were transported via the Torkham border crossing between September 17 and November 6 of the current year.
Among the repatriated individuals were women and children, who were provided with free transportation services from the Landi Kotal holding camp to the Torkham border, which serves as a link between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Furthermore, an additional 2,975 illegal immigrants were successfully repatriated through the Angor Ada border crossing in South Waziristan.
The spokesperson emphasized that the process actively promotes voluntary repatriation. Moreover, repatriation efforts from Punjab continue through the Torkham border, with relevant government departments extending assistance to the returnees.
Speaking to Khyber News, Pakistan’s interim interior minister, Sarfaraz Bugti, said that the process of deporting illegal immigrants is expected to be completed within one to two months.
Pakistan is currently hosting around 13 million illegal and undocumented Afghan nationals, with the vast majority of them residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
