As part of the repatriation process, 525 Afghan families have been sent back from Pakistan to Afghanistan. The repatriation was carried out in compliance with directives from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. These families were residing in refugee camps in Bannu district and were repatriated through the Torkham border crossing.
Authorities are now focusing on Afghan nationals living in rented houses and private residences in Bannu and surrounding areas. Efforts are underway to share their records with respective police stations for their prompt repatriation. Afghan families willing to return voluntarily can stay at temporary transit centers set up by the district administration, with transportation arrangements made to take them to the Torkham border for repatriation.
In response to the repatriation efforts, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior issued an order for the immediate arrest of Afghan nationals residing in the country without a valid visa from July 10. The directive was based on decisions made during a review meeting on the Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan, emphasizing the need for strict implementation.
The deportation initiative, which began in 2023 and was reinitiated in April last year, involved the cancellation of residence permits for hundreds of thousands of Afghans. The government warned of arrests for those who did not comply with the repatriation orders.
