Pakistan has released 147 Afghan nationals from its prisons, and they have returned to Afghanistan, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said on Thursday, as Islamabad continues its campaign against undocumented migrants.
According to the statement, those released had been detained by Pakistani police because they lacked legal residency documents. The group included families as well as individual returnees.
The ministry said 125 people re-entered Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing, while 22 others returned via Spin Boldak, the main crossing between southern Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The latest release follows the return of at least 344 Afghan nationals who were freed from prisons in Pakistan during the previous week, according to the Taliban ministry.
Pakistan has intensified the detention and deportation of Afghan nationals in recent months as part of its efforts to remove undocumented foreign residents. The campaign began in late 2023 and has since resulted in the return of more than 2 million Afghans, according to the reports.
The deportation drive has drawn concern from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, and other humanitarian organizations, which have warned that large-scale returns are placing additional pressure on Afghanistan’s fragile economy and limited public services.
Aid agencies say many returnees face significant challenges upon arrival, including shortages of housing, employment, healthcare, and education. They have called for increased international support to help meet the humanitarian needs of returning families and host communities.
