Pakistan Continues Mass Deportation of Afghan Refugees

Thousands of Afghan refugees are entering through Torkham crossing as Pakistan continues to implement mass deportations of refugees despite facing a backlash internationally. 

Drivers of passenger vehicles told TOLOnews that thousands of refugees are stranded on the other side of the Durand Line, facing a shortage of water and other essential needs.

The refugees, with most of them facing an uncertain future, are temporarily settled in the Torkham area of Nangarhar.

Youth, traders and other organizations are voluntarily engaged in helping the refugees, providing them with food and medical assistance.

“When we came here, we brought bread, beans, fresh fruits and oil with us,” said Shad Noor Mazlomyar, deputy head  of the Chamber of Craftsmen and Shopkeepers.

“We ask everyone including the shopkeepers, bakers and others to chip in,” said Ghulam Dastageer, craftsman.

The drivers said that the Afghan refugees on the other side of the Durand Line, whom Pakistan collected to deport to Afghanistan, face dire conditions and many have no access to water and other needs.

“When we talked to the people who were on the way, they told us that they had not eaten food for three to four days,” said Adel Shinwari, a deportee.

“The people are stranded on the streets in Lahore, Islamabad and across Torkham [crossing]. There are women and children among them who are based on the street,” said Abdul Wali Walizai, a deportee.

Islamic Emirate officials said that they provide meals for 40,000 refugees.

“We have talked with Kabul Silo [governmental bakery]. We have asked them to provide us with 100,000 loaves of bread. They have brought their six machines to the area,” said Sayed Ahmad Mustaqeem, deputy Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.

Pakistan pushed hundreds of thousands of refugees to return to Afghanistan as the November 1 deadline announced by its caretaker government has passed.