PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to partially reopen the Torkham border crossing to facilitate the repatriation of Afghan refugees.
Pakistan had shut the border with Afghanistan for all movement following cross-border terrorist attacks. In response, the military launched ‘Ghazab Lil Haq’ to dismantle terror sanctuaries in the neighbouring country, which has become a haven for outlawed groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The prolonged closure of the two main crossings — Torkham and Chaman — disrupted trade as well as the movement of people across the border. Meanwhile, Pakistan has already directed tens of thousands of Afghan nationals residing in the country, either illegally or under Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), to return.
The ACC is an identification document issued to registered Afghan nationals by NADRA. According to the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM), it provides temporary legal status to Afghans during their stay in Pakistan.
According to sources, the Torkham border will only be opened for specific convoys, and the repatriation process will be carried out in phases.
Police and government sources said the first phase of repatriation will begin with prisoners currently held in jails, where a large number of Afghan nationals are detained.
According to a report by the Home Department, more than 1,000 Afghan prisoners are in Peshawar Central Jail, while approximately 1,200 Afghan prisoners are lodged in jails in Kohat and Haripur. Their maintenance is costing millions of rupees daily.
Sources said that due to the increasing number of prisoners, the continuous arrival of family members, and security concerns, the government has decided to take immediate action.
In the first phase, Afghan nationals will be transferred from prisons to Nasir Bagh Camp, where their registration will be completed. After registration, refugees will be sent to Afghanistan in organised convoys via the Torkham border.
Strict security arrangements have been made for this process, and police will provide full security to the convoys from Jamrud up to the Torkham border.
According to sources, the second phase will include Afghan nationals residing in refugee camps, while the third phase will involve the repatriation of those living illegally in various cities across the province.
Officials said the entire process will be carried out in a dignified and organised manner. The Torkham border will not be opened for general travel, but only for specific convoys, and refugee convoys are expected to begin departing from tomorrow.
Government sources added that this strategy will reduce the burden on prisons, lower expenses, and help further improve law and order in the province.
