LANDI KOTAL, Pakistan: Another 30 families returned to Afghanistan on Friday as the repatriation of Afghan refugees through the Torkham border continues.
The 30 families comprised of 204 individuals, were transported in a convoy of 16 trucks to the Torkham crossing. Their documents were checked at the crossing point before they were granted permission to enter Afghanistan, marking another step in the ongoing process of facilitating the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland.
An official from the Afghan Commissionerate stated, “In just the past two days, we have witnessed the voluntary return of 60 families, accounting for approximately 554 individuals. This underscores the willingness of Afghan families to embrace the opportunity to return to their home country.”
The procedure for these returns involves Afghan families possessing the UNHCR cards contact a designated helpline located in Aza Khel, Nowshera in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Through this helpline, they are given a specific date on which to reach the designated camp. From there, they are transported to the Torkham border and after a thorough screening process, they embarking on their journey back to Afghanistan.
These returning refugees also receive financial assistance, which includes $375 per head at the Torkham border, an additional $350 upon their arrival in Afghanistan, and a subsequent $350 payment three months later.
This repatriation effort encompasses three distinct categories of Afghan refugees. The first category comprises individuals with UNHCR cards. They are considered refugees and receive the aforementioned financial support. The second category includes Afghan Citizen Card (ACC)-holders, who are also recognized as legal refugees but do not get financial aid upon their return to Afghanistan. The third category comprises undocumented refugees, who are considered illegal in their status.
Until recently, the undocumented refugees were not allowed to cross into Afghanistan but now Pakistan government has allowed them to go back. According to reports, the number of undocumented refugees is low in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and very high in Karachi and Punjab.
Last month Pakistan decided to send back all the illegal Afghan refugees in a major policy decision.
