Amidst undocumented Afghan civilian repatriation, 245 Afghan civilians from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) are poised to be deported through the Torkham border, as outlined in recent official statements. The initial convoy, comprising 24 individuals from Muzaffarabad and Kotli areas of Pakistani-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, has successfully reached Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
This marks the first repatriation from Jammu and Kashmir via the Torkham route. The temporary suspension of the migration of illegal immigrants from Islamabad and Pakistani-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan via Torkham has been announced by a senior official.
In addition to this, 15 undocumented Afghan prisoners, held for minor offenses, have been included in the deportation efforts, being sent back to Afghanistan. The cumulative count of foreigners repatriated from Punjab through Torkham stands at 288, with an additional 17 individuals deported just last Wednesday.
Wednesday saw a significant surge in repatriations, with a total of 4,119 illegal immigrants sent back to Afghanistan, including 1,236 men, 1,184 women, 1,650 children, and 49 prisoners.
These intensified repatriation measures align with the government’s directive, instructing 1.7 million Afghan nationals living illegally in the country to depart promptly or face legal consequences.