KABUL, July 9: Over 2,600 Afghan refugee families, the majority of whom were from Iran, with a significant chunk from Pakistan, returned home safely in a single day yesterday, reports Afghanistan’s state-owned media Bakhtar News Agency.
Taking to X, the media outfit said “2,604 Afghan migrant families, comprising 16,264 individuals, have returned to Afghanistan after being forcibly repatriated from Pakistan and Iran.”
“The High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues reported that these families crossed through various border points, including Torkham in Nangarhar, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Islam Qala in Herat, and Abrisham in Nimroz.”
This marks the latest incident in a long line of forced deportations and repatriations being undertaken by the administrations in Tehran and Islamabad, who are determined to send all refugees back to their homeland.
Neither country has shown much leniency to Afghan nationals, despite the interim Taliban government’s repeated calls, forcefully uprooting them from their residences, and send them packing.
However, there has been a noted improvement in their treatment of Afghans while deporting them, as the governments of both countries are providing the returnees essential resources for their journey home.
The citizens returning from Iran through the Islam Qala border crossing are being provided with free services, including cash assistance, food, health care, and transportation, said the High Commission of Refugee Affairs.
Additionally, they are also being given AFG 2000 in cash, warm meals for lunch and dinner, SIM cards, and medical services, said Mawlawi Ahmadullah Mutfi, head of the Information and Culture Department in Herat and a representative of the Public Awareness Committee.
(UNI)
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