Afghans' repatriation continues at Torkham

The voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan via the Torkham border in Khyber-district is underway on a large scale, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). UNHCR Pakistan spokesperson, Qaisar Khan Afridi, confirmed that the process of Afghan nationals returning to their homeland remains active. Afridi stated that 3,307 Afghan citizens returned to Afghanistan on Thursday alone through the Torkham crossing. He added that the total number of undocumented Afghans and other displaced persons currently in Pakistan has reached approximately 1.4 million, with the vast majority originating from Afghanistan. According to the UNHCR spokesperson, 175,000 Afghan nationals have returned so far this year. Since the end of 2023, more than 2.1 million Afghan citizens have repatriated from Pakistan. 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.