Afghanistan Peace Campaign
The Ministry of Refugees and Returnees reported that 108 Afghan families returned to Afghanistan after being expelled from Iran and Pakistan.
According to the Bakhtar News Agency, on Friday, January 10, officials from the Ministry of Refugees and Returnees stated that these 108 families returned to Afghanistan on Thursday, January 9, after being expelled from neighboring countries.
Out of these families, 16 returned via the Torkham border, 19 via Spin Boldak, 31 via the Silk Bridge, and 42 via Islam Qala.
Officials added that these returning families received assistance from the local administration and were referred to aid organizations for further support.
Meanwhile, a report from the Consortium of Aid Organizations at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has stated that, since September 15, 2024, there has been a significant increase in the return of migrants to Afghanistan via the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings.
It is worth noting that Afghan migrants, even those with legal documents, have recently been detained by Pakistani police and deported back to Afghanistan.
Recently, Amnesty International called on the Pakistani government to immediately release all Afghan refugees detained in Islamabad. In a statement, Amnesty also urged Pakistan to immediately revoke its policy requiring Afghan migrants to obtain a “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) in Islamabad.
The increasing number of returning Afghan families highlights the ongoing challenges faced by refugees in neighboring countries and the need for coordinated international support to ensure their protection and assistance.