UNHCR says around 7,000 Afghans return home daily

PESHAWAR: Over 75,000 refugees have returned from different parts of Pakistan to Afghanistan during the current month, while an average of 7,000 Afghan nationals are returning daily to their country, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Afghanistan, said on Wednesday.

It said over 320,000 Afghan nationals have returned from Pakistan to their homeland since August, adding the UNHCR was providing shelter and emergency cash support to those returning home. “With winter setting in, resources are running thin and more support is needed,” the UN body said asking for international support.

Pakistan had set August 30 deadline for the Afghan nationals to return to their country with respect. The deadline was for all kinds of Afghans, including those possessing Proof of Registration Cards and Afghan Citizen Cards. Only those possessing travel documents and valid visas were allowed to stay further after the deadline.

Despite the end of the deadline, strict action has not so far been taken against the Afghan nationals anywhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where huge majority of them are settled for over four decades. After assuming the office, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi stated that no Afghan will be forced to return home while those who want to go back voluntarily would be facilitated.

There are also thousands of Afghans who have obtained Pakistani visas, while others have applied for it to run their businesses and take care of their assets. Different departments have also kicked off probe against thousands of individuals who are said to possess Pakistani Computerised National Identity Cards but are believed to be Afghan nationals.