Pakistan’s Afghan refugee repatriation campaign reached another milestone as three refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district were completely vacated after 525 Afghan families returned to Afghanistan. The move is part of the government’s phased plan to repatriate Afghan nationals residing across the province.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Umar Khittab Khan said the repatriation was carried out under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s policy covering refugees living in camps, urban areas, and villages. The families residing in the Bizan Khel, Ghoriwala, and Mamand Khel camps were transported to Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing.
Authorities provided transportation and other logistical support to facilitate the return process. Officials said the operation was conducted in an organized manner to ensure that families completed the journey safely while receiving necessary administrative assistance during the Afghan refugee repatriation process.
Following the evacuation of the camps, the district administration has shifted its focus to Afghan nationals living in rented accommodation and private residences across Bannu and nearby villages. Officials said records of these individuals have been shared with local police stations to support the next phase of the repatriation programme.
The administration also established temporary transit centres for Afghan families choosing to return voluntarily. Refugees staying at these centres are provided with transport arrangements to the Torkham border before crossing into Afghanistan.
The repatriation drive has accelerated in recent weeks after the federal government directed undocumented Afghan nationals to leave Pakistan. Officials at the Hamza Baba transit point in Landi Kotal recently reported that more than 10,000 people were crossing into Afghanistan daily following the government’s deadline.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the reported forced return of Afghan nationals, urging that repatriation should remain voluntary, safe, and conducted in accordance with international humanitarian standards while Pakistan continues its Afghan refugee repatriation programme.
