7,500 Afghans Returned via Spin Boldak in the Past Week

The number of returning refugees through Spin Boldak district of Kandahar has increased.

Officials say that in just the past week, 7,500 people have returned to Afghanistan through Spin Boldak.

Abdul Latif Hakimi, head of refugee registration in Spin Boldak district, said: “With the deadline set by Pakistan now expired, the number of returning refugees has increased. Up to 300 families per day are coming back, which is around 1,500 individuals. Since last week, 7,500 refugees have returned through Spin Boldak, and the process is still ongoing.”

Hazratullah, who returned to the country after Pakistan’s deadline for Afghan refugees expired, said he was happy to come back with his family but described the treatment they faced in Pakistan as inhumane.

He said: “The situation in Pakistan was very bad. Even at the border gate, Pakistani forces harassed us, denied us water, and forced our children to stand in the sun under different pretexts. Now I am very happy to be back.”

Another returnee, Ajmal, said: “My father, uncle, and other relatives were arrested by Pakistanis, so we had no choice but to return to our homeland.”

Several other returnees also shared stories of hardship in Pakistan, while urging the Islamic Emirate to provide assistance.

One returnee, Feroz Khan, said: “Every day we were arrested and released only after paying money, with no certainty about the future. Poor people were targeted the most. The oppression of Afghans in Pakistan is beyond description.”

Another returnee, Lutfullah, added: “We ask the Islamic Emirate to help us with shelter and also provide us with work opportunities.”

According to officials, since yesterday, 2,240 refugee families have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries via Spin Boldak, Torkham, Paktika, Nimroz, and Herat provinces, and emergency humanitarian aid has been provided to all of them.