The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced that at least 561 Afghan migrants have been released from Pakistani prisons over the past week. The ministry stated that Afghan migrants had been arrested and imprisoned across the country for lacking valid residency documents.
The ministry said in a statement on Thursday, May 14, that 481 of these migrants were returned to Afghanistan via the Torkham crossing, and 80 via the Spin Boldak crossing. According to the statement, women and children were also among those deported after serving time in Pakistani prisons.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees also said that the returned individuals have been transferred to their home areas. However, the ministry did not specify how long these individuals had spent in Pakistani prisons.
On May 7, the ministry had also reported the deportation of 491 Afghan migrants after their release from Pakistani prisons. Pakistan has recently intensified the detention and deportation of Afghan migrants.
Meanwhile, international organizations have repeatedly expressed concern over the arrest of Afghan journalists and activists in Pakistan. These organizations have stated that the deportation of women, civil and human rights activists, journalists, military personnel, and former government employees to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is not safe.
Writer:Salima Hakimi
