Pakistan’s Deadline Spurs Return of 200,000 Afghans, Some Facing Challenges in Resettlement

Pakistan’s announcement of a deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave the country has led to around 200,000 Afghans returning home via the Torkham border. The police in Peshawar and other districts have initiated checks on the documents of vendors and shopkeepers in certain areas to identify those with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards or any other documents legalizing their stay in Pakistan. However, there have been no reports of mass arrests in any locality. Many of those returning, especially women and children, lack adequate facilities after repatriation, and a significant number do not have homes in Afghanistan as they had left the country decades ago.