Repatriation of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan Resumes

The repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan resumed on Monday after four months delay, following the attack in Pakistan that forced the country close the crossing points.

Afghan refugees were stranded on the border despite holding legal documents.

The refugees said that they were being beaten and detained by Pakistani officials on charges of having links with the insurgent groups and even being forced to pay extortion.

According to officials, 600 Afghan refugees expected to return to their homeland on daily bases, and the government pays over 3,000 Afghanis for each returnees.

Last year, thousands of Afghan refugees returned to their country from Pakistan in what the world’s top human rights group called largest unlawful mass forced return of refugees in recent times.

Around 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan and according to UNHCR, about 16,000 of them based in Khyber-Pakhtuknhwa province have been registered to head home.

The repatriation of Afghan refugees usually starts on 1st of March but this time it was delayed due to over a month-long closure of border between the two countries.