KABUL: The Torkham border crossing witnessed a massive return of Afghan nationals, as Pakistani authorities deported 300 families and handed over 350 prisoners to their Afghan counterparts in a single day. This latest wave of repatriations, reported by TOLOnews, adds to what is becoming a severe humanitarian crisis. Officials in Nangarhar said that the returning families were provided with some essential assistance before being sent to their native areas.
Bakht Jamal Gohar, the head of migrant transportation at Torkham, confirmed the numbers, adding that 20 of the deported families were part of the 350 prisoners handed over, and some of them even had legal documents. These migrants, many of whom have spent decades in Pakistan, are now appealing for more support from both the Islamic Emirate and global aid organisations.
The human cost of these deportations is becoming increasingly evident. Ejazul Haq, a deportee, spoke of his plight, “All our belongings were left behind. I only brought one mattress and a bed with me.” Another returnee, Sharbat Khan, expressed a mix of emotions, saying, “After forty years, we returned to our homeland. We are happy, but in addition to aid, we also want land.”
The story of Abdullah, a 50-year-old from Kunar, stands as a stark reminder of the hardships. After living in Pakistan for three decades, his hair turned white from the struggle, only to be forcibly returned by the police eight days ago. “I was working as a labourer when they suddenly came, arrested me, and deported me,” he shared, his voice heavy with despair. To make matters worse, his three disabled sons and three other children, who were healthy, were deported just a day after him. His son, Sharifullah, recounted the frantic search for his father before they learned of the deportation.
According to the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations, 747 families were forcibly returned from Pakistan and Iran just yesterday. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has warned that this year alone, 1.5 million migrants have been deported, making it one of the largest such movements in recent memory. The UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said the IOM is urgently appealing for international support as this ongoing deportation push threatens to push Afghanistan into a deep crisis. Since September 2023, more than four million Afghans have returned from neighbouring countries, with over 1.5 million in 2025 alone.
Read More: AIFF announces USD 25,000 reward for U20 women’s team after historic Asian Cup qualification