Over 49,562 undocumented Afghans repatriated

LANDIKOTAL: The repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals from Pakistan through the Torkham border crossing has intensified since April 1, following the expiry of the deadline for illegal residents to leave voluntarily, officials said on Sunday.

According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Khyber administration officials, over 49,562 Afghan nationals had returned to Afghanistan through the Torkham border from April 1 to April 12. These individuals were living in various parts of Pakistan without legal documentation, they said.

The returning Afghan nationals included 4,820 families, who resided in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.On April 12 alone, 4,123 Afghan nationals crossed into Afghanistan via Torkham.

Officials said the process remained orderly and under strict supervision by law enforcement agencies and border management authorities.The government of Pakistan launched a countrywide operation earlier this year to identify and expel undocumented foreigners, most of whom were Afghan nationals. The campaign was initiated in phases, with the latest phase focusing on the ones who failed to leave by the set deadlines.

Between April 1 and April 12, daily repatriation continued, with buses and trucks transporting Afghan families to the border crossing point at Torkham. Security personnel monitored the movement, while the local administration facilitated the return process.

Officials at the Torkham border confirmed that the majority of the repatriated families did not possess valid refugee cards or travel documents, making them subject to deportation under Pakistani law.

The repatriation process included documentation checks, biometric verification, and coordination between Pakistani and Afghan border officials. Returnees were allowed to carry their personal belongings, including household items and livestock.

Temporary shelters and waiting areas have been established on the Afghan side of the border to accommodate the influx of returnees. Afghan authorities have deployed staff to assist returning citizens and provide basic humanitarian support.

The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations have expressed

concern over the scale of the repatriations, urging both governments to ensure that the process was conducted with dignity and without human rights violations.

Pakistani authorities maintained that the campaign targeted only undocumented foreigners and did not affect registered Afghan refugees with valid visas and residence

permits.

The mass return has put pressure on Afghan border provinces, where authorities are struggling to absorb the large number of incoming families. Afghan officials in Nangarhar province, which borders Torkham, have reported a growing need for food, shelter, and medical aid.

Local sources in Landikotal and Torkham said the returnees were often seen waiting in long queues, while security forces verified their identities before allowing them to proceed to Afghanistan.

Several families reported difficult journeys from interior Pakistan to the border, citing financial hardship, roadblocks, and limited access to transportation. Some said they were forced to leave behind their livelihoods and other possessions.

The repatriation drive is expected to continue in the coming days, with Pakistani officials stating that more undocumented foreigners would be identified and deported as part of the ongoing crackdown.