Thousands of Afghan immigrants expelled by Pakistan return to their country

After the deadline set by the Pakistani government for illegal immigrants to leave the country expired yesterday, thousands of people wanting to go to Afghanistan flocked to Pakistan’s northwest border gate.

After announcing that 14 of the 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghans, Pakistan announced on October 3 that illegal immigrants would be deported if they did not leave the country by November 1.

DEPORTATION PROCEDURES HAVE BEGAN

Pakistani authorities had begun procedures to deport the migrants, most of whom were Afghans and did not have legal residency documents, hours before the deadline. As a result of the ultimatum given by the Pakistani government a month ago, more than a million Afghans could be forced to leave the country or be detained and deported.

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan announced that temporary camps had been established and that food and medical aid would be provided, but some aid organizations reported that conditions at the border were difficult.

The Pakistani government claims that 1.7 million of the more than 4 million Afghan citizens living in the country do not have legal residency documents. (AA)