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Pakistan Resumes Afghan Refugee Deportations via Torkham Border

Pakistan has restarted the deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees through the Torkham border, which recently reopened after a month-long closure due to clashes. Authorities repatriated 50 Afghans from prisons following a multi-agency clearance process involving police, intelligence, and immigration. This follows recent raids in Swabi district where over 300 illegal Afghan refugees were detained as part of a broader crackdown. An estimated 30,000 Afghan refugees still reside in Swabi, with many lacking proper documentation.

Key Points: Pakistan Deports Afghan Refugees via Torkham Border

  • Deportation resumes at Torkham border
  • 50 Afghans repatriated from prisons
  • Over 300 detained in Swabi district raids
  • Border reopened after month-long closure
  • Multi-agency clearance process involved
2 min read

Pakistan resumes deportation of Afghan refugees through Torkham border

Pakistan resumes deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees through Torkham border after reopening, following recent cross-border tensions and raids.

"50 Afghans who were kept in different prisons for residing in Pakistan without documents were taken to the transit point and later repatriated - Dawn report"

Islamabad, March 27

Pakistan has resumed deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees through the Torkham border after the border was reopened for one-way pedestrian movement after its month-long closure due to clashes between Kabul and Islamabad, local media reported on Friday.

In recent weeks, tensions have escalated between Afghanistan and Pakistan due to airstrikes, artillery fire, and accusations from both sides.

Officials at a temporary transit point set up near the Hamza Baba mausoleum in Landi Kotal said that 50 Afghans who were kept in different prisons for residing in Pakistan without documents were taken to the transit point and later repatriated to Afghanistan after a clearance process on Thursday, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. The police and intelligence agencies, Nat­­ional Database and Regist­ration Authority (Nadra) and immigration departments were involved in the clearance process.

The authorities released the schedule of the deportation and repatriation at the Torkham border before the deportation process started at 9:30 am (local time) on Thursday. Government departments, including the National Logistics Cor­por­at­ion (NLC), Federal Inv­es­tigation Agency (FIA), Cus­toms, and Nadra were ordered to activate their computerised systems and brief about 'ready status' to the security officials at the border in advance.

Furthermore, authorities imposed curfew at Torkham and the movement of people was restricted around the terminal, Bacha Maina, Machni, and the nearby areas.

On March 15, over 300 illegal Afghan refugees have been detained by police during raids carried out in various parts of Swabi district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A crackdown was launched after the district administration and police officials' decision to deport illegal Afghans, daily Dawn reported, citing sources. The police had ordered Station House Officers (SHOs) to keep data of all illegal Afghans in the jurisdictions of their police stations.

According to sources, 341 Afghan refugees were arrested during raids conducted in Topi, Razaar, Chota Lahor tehsils and other parts of Swabi on March 15. They mentioned that the raids will continue and all Afghan refugees, who are illegally residing in Swabi, will be detained and deported to Afghanistan.

Around 30,000 Afghan refugees still live in various parts of Swabi, with most of them having proper documentation, while others stay illegally. The sources revealed that these Afghan refugees were residing in Gandaf Refugees Camp and Gohati Refugees Camp, and a large number of them were staying in various farming fields and cities.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The situation at the Pak-Afghan border seems perpetually tense. This deportation drive, while framed as an administrative action, feels like a direct result of the recent clashes. It's the common people, the refugees, who suffer the most in these geopolitical games.
A
Aman W
Reading about the curfew and restricted movement around Torkham... it must be a frightening situation for locals too. Stability in our region is so fragile. India has also dealt with complex refugee situations. Hope for a peaceful resolution.
S
Sarah B
The article mentions 30,000 refugees in Swabi alone, with most having proper documents. The crackdown should clearly distinguish between documented and undocumented individuals. A blanket approach can create more humanitarian suffering.
V
Vikram M
This highlights the critical need for robust documentation systems. Nadra's involvement is key. In India, we've seen how important Aadhaar and proper records are. Without it, managing population movement is incredibly difficult.
K
Karthik V
While I understand the security concerns, the method described feels very heavy-handed. Raids, detentions, imposing curfews... There must be a more dignified way to handle repatriation, especially for those who might have lived there for years.

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