Islamabad, Apr 4, 2025: In a recent development, 153 Afghan refugees holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) have voluntarily returned to Afghanistan from various regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through the Torkham border crossing.
This move aligns with Pakistan’s broader strategy to repatriate ACC holders following the expiration of the March 31 deadline.
Officials from the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees in Peshawar have confirmed the establishment of two transit points to facilitate this process: one located in the Khyber tribal district and another in Peshawar. These centers aim to ensure an organized and respectful return for Afghan refugees.
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The second phase of the repatriation effort focuses on ACC holders, mirroring the initial phase’s procedures. All returning individuals are being registered with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to maintain accurate records and streamline the process.
A senior government official emphasized that, despite the deadline passing, no coercive measures have been employed to force refugees to leave.
“The government seeks an honorable return for Afghan refugees. The crackdown has yet to commence,” the official stated. Since March 31, 27 out of the 153 refugees departed on Wednesday, with additional departures anticipated.
In addition to the ACC holders, approximately 850 undocumented foreign nationals have also returned to Afghanistan.
These individuals lacked both ACC and Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, classifying them as undocumented.
However, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government extended the deadline to April 2 in consideration of the Eid holidays. The government remains committed to facilitating a dignified return and expects ACC holders to repatriate voluntarily.
Since the initiation of the repatriation program for illegally residing Afghan refugees in 2023, over 477,434 individuals, including women and children, have returned to Afghanistan.
Official data indicates that 470,722 departed via the Torkham border crossing, 698 through the Kharlachi border, and one individual through the Sost border to China.
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Additionally, 2,953 Afghan nationals illegally residing in other parts of Pakistan have left for Afghanistan, including 1,561 from Islamabad, 1,309 from Punjab, one from Gilgit-Baltistan, and 44 from Sindh.
Among the 477,434 Afghans who have returned since September 2023, 468,481 did so voluntarily, while 8,953 were deported.
The government has assured that no maltreatment will occur during the repatriation process, with arrangements for food and healthcare in place for returning individuals.
Meanwhile, six Afghan families voluntarily returned to Afghanistan from the Khyber tribal district on Thursday.
The families, comprising 27 male and 13 female members, were not registered at the temporary registration center near Hamza Baba’s mausoleum, as the facility is not yet fully operational.
Senior officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department, visited the Landi Kotal center on Thursday to review arrangements for the deportation of illegal Afghan nationals.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Khyber tribal district, along with representatives from various departments, briefed the Additional Chief Secretary on the services provided at the center, emphasizing that ACC holders and undocumented foreigners will receive necessary assistance for their return.
In related developments, imports from Afghanistan remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Thursday due to technical issues with the National Logistic Cell’s scanner.
