PESHAWAR: Hundreds of Afghan nationals continue to leave Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for their homeland amid mounting challenges, including harsh weather conditions and a lack of basic facilities in Afghanistan.
Police, along with officials of the district administration and other law-enforcement agencies, have increased snap checking and search operations in different parts of Peshawar.Documents of people are being checked, and those who do not possess Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) are being asked to return to their homeland.
Temporary snap-checking points have also been set up in many crowded urban areas in recent weeks.No strict action has been taken against foreigners so far, as the KP government has stressed a respectable return of Afghans and directed police not to take coercive action against them.
All refugee camps across KP and Pakistan were closed in recent months. Families were directed to return to Afghanistan after the expiry of documents legalising their stay in Pakistan.Many Afghan families complained that those returning to their homeland are facing serious challenges due to the harsh winter, lack of accommodation, and absence of basic facilities.
“We need only a few months until the end of winter to make arrangements for homes and shelters in Afghanistan. Tens of thousands of Afghans who have never been to their country in their lifetime need time to arrange accommodation for their children and families,” said Saleem Khan, a 38-year-old vendor. He said that he and all his siblings were born in Peshawar.
Thousands of Afghan families have been running businesses in Peshawar and other cities. Besides, tens of thousands worked as vendors or in other professions, living a respectable life for decades.
In November, the UNHCR appealed to the international community to help returning refugees.“Refugee returns from Pakistan to Afghanistan continue, averaging 7,000 per day. With winter setting in, resources are running thin and more support is needed,” the UNHCR stated.
Police and the district administration have gradually started operations against Afghan nationals over the past few weeks.Deputy commissioners and district police heads have been ordered to initiate action against Afghan nationals living in rented houses, apartments, and shops in different areas. They were also directed to check whether Afghans are living in properties rented by locals using their CNICs.
Tens of thousands of Afghan families have left for their homeland in recent months.Authorities had been asking Afghan families living in the country to pack up and leave by the given deadlines. They were facilitated in Peshawar and Khyber to ensure their repatriation with dignity.
Policemen and other officials made announcements in some mosques, requesting Afghan families to return to their country after the expiry of their Proof of Registration (PoR) cards on June 30. However, a large number of Afghans are yet to wind up their businesses in Pakistan.
The government had asked all Afghan refugees, including those holding PoR cards and other documents, to return to their homeland by August 30.Earlier, March 31 was set as the deadline for illegal Afghans as well as those holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) to return to their country.
Before that, October 2023 was fixed as the deadline for the return of all unregistered Afghans, after which hundreds of thousands returned to Afghanistan.Pakistan hosted millions of Afghan refugees for nearly five decades, with hundreds of thousands returning to their country in recent years.
