147 Afghan refugees imprisoned in Pakistan for not obtaining residency promotions were freed and allowed to return to the country on Sunday.

Children and women are among those who have been released, and a prisoner’s body has also been transferred, according to local officials for refugees in Kandahar, reported by Bakhtar News Agency.

Some freed detainees with various diseases were transferred to Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar. The official also said the rest of the people were returned to their homes with the help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) office.

According to officials, over the past few months, more than 2,000 Afghan refugees across Pakistan have been detained due to not having a residential permit.

Most Afghan citizens who need medical care initially travel to Pakistan. As a result, Pakistani officials pledged to allow Afghanistan patients to enter Pakistan without visas.

In February, The Taliban government closed the Torkham border crossing following Pakistan’s failure to pledge that it would allow the movement of Afghan patients without valid travel documents for medical treatment. 

Due to the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad and the refugee offices’ efforts, thousands of Afghan refugees have been freed from Pakistani prisons and transferred to the country.