Over 221,000 Afghans left Pakistan since Sept. 17 — official data

KARACHI: Around 221,958 Afghan immigrants have left Pakistan since Sept. 17, while on Saturday, at least 7,723 crossed into Afghanistan from Torkham and two other border crossings in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, according to data shared by an official on Sunday.

In September, Pakistan launched a crackdown against illegal Afghan nationals in the country, with Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar saying Islamabad would repatriate undocumented Afghan citizens to curb the smuggling of goods and foreign currency.

In October, Pakistan’s caretaker administration handed an ultimatum to illegal immigrants in the country: leave by Nov. 1 or face deportation. The government said Afghan nationals were involved in smuggling, suicide attacks, and other offenses.  Islamabad set up holding centers across the country to speed up the repatriation process as authorities continue to arrest illegal immigrants in nationwide sweeps.

Around 1.7 million, out of a total of four million, Afghans in Pakistan are not registered, according to the Pakistani government. It insists the expulsion order did not specifically target Afghans, but undocumented foreigners living in the South Asian country.

“At least 54,184 people have returned from two points [in Balochistan since Sept. 17] and around 90 percent of them are voluntarily evictions,” Jan Achakzai, caretaker information minister Balochistan, told Arab News.

According to the data he shared with Arab News, 588 people crossed into Afghanistan through two border crossing points in Balochistan on Saturday, Nov. 4.

Separately, data obtained from Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government showed that 7,135 Afghan immigrants, including 2,121 men, 1,765 women, and 3,040 children, crossed the border on Saturday, November 4, into Afghanistan. This figure also includes 209 individuals who were forcibly deported to their country.  

In total, the data reveals that 167,774 people from 10,589 families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have returned to Afghanistan from the Torkham border crossing since Sept. 17. This includes 46,936 men, 35,507 women, and 85,331 children 

In Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, 70 undocumented refugees were transported towards the Chaman border in Balochistan on Sunday morning, official data showed.  

A video shared with Arab News by a Sindh police official showed a refugee thanking the Pakistani government for repatriating him and his family with dignity. The refugee said in the video that he and his family were provided food, security, and medicines. 

"We thank the police for their good treatment," he said. 

Members of Pakistan’s civil society have criticized police for harassing documented refugees and detaining them. 

However, Irfan Bahadur, senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Karachi East where the Afghan refugee settlements in the city are situated, said the allegations were baseless.

Bahadur said police had ensured only undocumented refugees were taken to holding centers. 

"We are conducting the operation while respecting their privacy and culture,” he told Arab News. “Only the undocumented are taken into custody, and that too in the most respectful manner.” 

Bahadur said only female police officers were entering the homes of undocumented immigrants.  

"Those held in holding centers appreciate the good attitude of the police," he added. 

Pakistan’s decision to expel illegal immigrants last month followed suicide bombings in the country this year that the government said involved Afghan nationals, though it did not provide any evidence. 

Kabul has criticized Pakistan for the move and said Islamabad needed to reconsider its decision.