10, 000 Afghan refugees return from Pak in four days amid increasing pressure

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations (MoRR) has said that the number of Afghan refugees returning home from Pakistan is on the rise, adding that 10,000 have returned home in just four days and a total of 2,00,000 refugees have returned in the past six months.

According to Kabul, increasing pressure by Pakistani forces is believed to be the main reason for the influx of return of the refugees, reports the Tolo News.

"Following increasing tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the political pressure also increased on Afghan refugees, so repatriation levels increased in the wake of efforts made by government for voluntary repatriation; cash support also increased and these issues are the main aspects of the rise in the repatriations," said Hafiz Ahmad Miakhail, media advisor for the MoRR.

"Pakistan has imposed additional restrictions and pressure, police now easily arrest a refugee and investigate them, police arrested my son despite the fact he had a refugee card," he said.

However, the refugees who have returned showcase mixed feelings about their stay in Pakistan.

"We had a good life there, our children were at school," said one of the refugees, while the other said: "Pakistan has imposed additional restrictions and pressure, police now easily arrest a refugee and investigate them, police arrested my son despite the fact he had a refugee card."

Up to 1.5 million Afghan refugees still live in Pakistan. However, Pakistan has given the refugees a six months notice to leave.