KABUL (Kubha News) Pakistan has forcibly repatriated 103 Afghan refugees, comprising 24 families, across the Durand line into Afghanistan, according to the Taliban’s Ministry of Migrants and Returnees.
In a statement issued Monday, the ministry disclosed that the refugees, who crossed the Durand line through the Torkham over the past two days, were returned under the premise of assisting international institutions.
After registering with the Directorate of Migrants Affairs in Nangarhar, the families were directed to the offices of UNHCR and other International Refugee Organizations.
This action comes amidst broader efforts by Pakistan to repatriate Afghan refugees residing within its borders. Last year, 7.7 million Afghan refugees were registered in Pakistan and Iran, with approximately 1.5 million returning to Afghanistan over the past two years.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees recently stated a need for $620 million to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan, in turn, has announced plans to initiate the second phase of refugee returns by the end of April, targeting 66 individuals who were issued Afghan Citizen Cards in 2017 and 2018.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has outlined a subsequent phase, aimed at returning a portion of the four million Afghans who registered for recognition cards in 2006.
Reports indicate that Pakistan repatriated over half a million Afghans forcibly last year, underscoring the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding refugee management in the region.