Pakistan’s Geo News, citing its sources, has reported that following the complete closure of 10 camps in Balochistan, 85,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan.
According to the report, 3,800 migrants were also arrested yesterday in the city of Quetta, Pakistan.
Part of Geo News’ report reads: “The crackdown against Afghan refugees in Quetta continues, and yesterday, 3,888 Afghan refugees who were residing illegally in the city were arrested.”
Atiqullah Mansoor, one of the migrants, said: “Following the recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the arrest and forced deportation of migrants have increased more than before.”
Another migrant, Mohammad Reza Sazish, said: “Every day and night, forced deportations continue across Pakistan. We stay inside our homes and cannot go outside.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defense Minister and Sohail Afridi, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have once again emphasized the return of refugees to Afghanistan, saying that Afghan migrants will be sent back to their country with dignity.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, stated: “Just as we hosted them with dignity, we will now send them back to their country in the same respectful manner.”
Sohail Afridi, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said: “The inappropriate behavior that used to occur at the border should not happen again, and the departments that were creating problems for them should stop doing so. There should also be more exit gates.”
A migrant rights activist also said that the issue of Afghan refugees in Pakistan should not be politicized.
