PESHAWAR – The return of Afghan refugees from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has accelerated, with doctors, nurses, teachers, and members of the business community among those going back in large numbers.
This development comes as federal institutions prepare for a possible crackdown on unregistered refugees. Sources confirmed that search operations are under way in different districts to identify nearly nine hundred thousand unregistered Afghan refugees. Officials said that once the identification process is complete, strict action will follow.
In this atmosphere, even registered Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) and Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) are returning to Afghanistan at an unusual pace. In Peshawar, many Afghan citizens have closed hospitals, hotels, schools, and other businesses as they prepare to leave.
One of the biggest challenges during the repatriation process is the shortage of trucks. The Afghan government has refused to send additional trucks, forcing many refugees to sell their belongings locally instead of transporting them across the border.
Officials confirmed that deportations of Afghan citizens are also taking place from Punjab and Islamabad. Analysts observed that the large-scale return of refugees will have a significant impact not only on Afghanistan but also on Pakistan’s economy and social fabric.
