Shafaqna Pakistan: The voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan through the Torkham Border Crossing is continuing at a significant pace, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
UNHCR Pakistan spokesperson Qaisar Khan Afridi confirmed that the return of Afghan nationals to their homeland remains ongoing.
Afridi said that 3,307 Afghan citizens crossed back into Afghanistan on Thursday alone via the Torkham route.
He further noted that the total number of undocumented Afghans and other displaced individuals currently residing in Pakistan stands at around 1.4 million, with most of them being Afghan nationals.
According to the UNHCR spokesperson, 175,000 Afghan citizens have returned so far this year, while since the end of 2023, more than 2.1 million Afghans have gone back from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
Afridi appealed for exemptions to be granted to individuals facing medical issues, students, and those in mixed marriages, urging authorities to consider their special circumstances.
He emphasized that the return of refugees must be voluntary, safe, and dignified, and called on both Pakistan and Afghanistan to ensure the protection of basic human rights for all affected individuals.
The spokesperson reiterated that most of the displaced persons in Pakistan belong to Afghanistan, highlighting the scale of the ongoing humanitarian movement.
This large-scale repatriation reflects Pakistan’s efforts to manage undocumented migration while UNHCR continues to monitor the situation and advocate for humane treatment of returnees.
Source: Express Tribune
