In a fresh wave of repatriation, a total of 1,458 Afghan nationals holding citizen cards were sent back to Afghanistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through the Torkham border, as per Pakistan’s Interior Ministry. In addition, 2,656 undocumented Afghan migrants were deported, according to a report by ARY News.
Of these, 1,245 returned voluntarily, while 213 were forcibly deported. Repatriations also took place from other provinces and territories of Pakistan:
- Islamabad: 15 card-holders and 92 undocumented individuals
- Punjab: 198 card-holders and 451 undocumented individuals
- Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir: 195 Afghan cardholders deported
- Sindh: 44 undocumented Afghans deported
Since September 2023, over 527,705 undocumented Afghan migrants have reportedly been sent back to Afghanistan, marking one of the largest repatriation drives in recent years.
Amid this, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took a softer stance, stating that Afghan refugees will not be forcibly removed from the province or dumped at the borders.
“We have to see why they have taken arms. They are our own people; we have to own them,” Gandapur said.
“We will not send Afghan migrants back until the Afghan government consents to accept them,” he added.
He emphasized that the KP government will not support forced repatriation, instead advocating dialogue and mutual understanding with Afghanistan to find long-term solutions.
Gandapur’s remarks mark a clear divergence from Islamabad’s current deportation policy. His statement also acknowledges the complexities involved in addressing militant activity and the humanitarian concerns surrounding the refugees.
The repatriation of Afghan nationals comes amid strained ties between Islamabad and Kabul, growing concerns over security threats, and Pakistan’s internal push to identify and remove illegal immigrants from its territory.