Afghanistan Government says the mass deportation of its nationals from Pakistan
has a profound impact on Afghan society, as it disrupts the lives of thousands as families are suddenly uprooted and forced to return home.
Pakistan’s decision to deport undocumented Afghan refugees has faced strong reactions from the international community.
The Afghan government said it faces the daunting task of reintegrating these individuals into society and providing them with essential services.
On November 3, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Authorities estimated that approximately 160,638 illegal Afghans had been deported to Afghanistan.
This includes 44,718 men, 33,699 women, and 82,221 children.
About 12,689 people returned to Afghanistan through the Torkham border.
These statistics shed light on the scale of the deportation and the challenges it poses for both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Afghan refugees who were deported from Pakistan following Islamabad’s deadline, are struggling with cold weather amid dire conditions, a major concern for the deportees, who are voicing out their difficulties and challenges.
The deportees said that they were forced to leave everything behind in Pakistan and are now facing dire conditions.
Last month, Pakistan announced it would expel over 1.73 million undocumented Afghan refugees after November 1.
The interim Afghan Government prepared a terminal in Kabul’s Sarai Shamali area as a camp for the deportees. The camp has more than 50 tents and it has the capacity to hold 500 people.
“This is an emergency process. They will be staying for one or two nights in the terminal. We provide them with all facilities,” said Kabir Khil, Head of the terminal.
Khalid Zadran, the Spokesman for the Kabul Security Department, said preparations to receive the Afghan deportees from Pakistan is a priority.
