Afghan exodus from Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asia intensifies
File photo
File photo
(Sumaira Raja): The government is taking steps to stop Afghan land from being used for terrorism, while at the same time, the return of Afghans from Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asia is speeding up.

According to Suno News Investigation Cell, this year illegally residing Afghans have been repatriated from Pakistan, Iran,and Central Asia, while 1lac 90 thousand and 350 have been officially deported.

When the process of sending Afghan refugees back started in  September 2023, there were more than  2.9 million  Afghans living in Pakistan. So far, about  1.63 million have gone back, showing a big drop in their numbers.

Right now, around  1.28 million Afghans are still living in Pakistan including 2lac 8,000  who are there illegally.

This year, 8lac 24 thousand and 274 Afghans have been sent back from Pakistan  and 1lac 35thousand 249  of them were deported.

Most registered Afghan refugees live in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 6lac  99,000, Islamabad 30,277, Balochistan  3lac 13,000), Punjab 1lac 61,000, Sindh 72,349, and 4000 in  Azad Kashmir.

In the last eight years, the number of Afghans arrested in Pakistan has doubled. This  year 94 thousand 485 Afghans were arrested for different reasons.