Pakistan speeds up Afghans’ repatriation as deadline expires

On Friday, Pakistan expanded its border facilities to expedite the repatriation of numerous undocumented Afghans. This move came two days after the expiration of a deadline for these Afghans to leave the country or face expulsion. Despite appeals to reconsider the plan, Pakistan remained firm in its decision. The country has dismissed requests from the United Nations, human rights groups, and Western embassies to rethink the expulsion of over a million of the four million Afghans residing in Pakistan. The Pakistani government alleges that these Afghans have participated in Islamist militant attacks and criminal activities, compromising the nation's security. However, Afghanistan refutes these allegations. Afghan refugees in Karachi, Pakistan, were registered for verification on Friday.

The UN refugee agency, the International Organisation for Migration, and the UN Children’s Fund expressed their concern for the safety of children and families affected by the expulsion on Friday. They warned of an impending humanitarian crisis as winter approaches. Mullah Hassan Akhund, the prime minister of the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan, also voiced his reservations. He stated, 'It is 100 per cent against all principles, come and talk face to face. ' The facilities at the primary northwestern border crossing of Torkham have been tripled to accommodate the increasing number of returnees. Abdul Nasir Khan, the deputy commissioner for Khyber district, assured, 'Everything is normal now as the returnees no longer need to wait in queues for hours.

Those who have returned to Afghanistan have reported experiencing hardships. Mohammad Ismael Rafi, a 55-year-old who lived in the southwestern Pakistani border town of Chaman for 22 years, recounted, 'We spent three days on the border in Pakistan. We had a very bad situation. ' He expressed relief at finally returning to his homeland. It took him six days to leave his home in Pakistan with his 16 family members and belongings to reach a makeshift tent village on the other side of the border. Rafi accused Pakistani officials of accepting bribes, a claim that Islamabad denies. Sarfraz, a 16-year-old Afghan schoolboy, stated that he and his father had never visited Afghanistan and did not wish to do so now. His grandfather had migrated to Pakistan decades ago. He questioned, 'Where should we go? There is no work there. We're poor people. We are being forced. We have to leave.