29 Afghan migrants freed from Pakistani jails

Twenty-nine Afghan migrants were released from prisons in Pakistan and returned to Afghanistan through the Spin Boldak border, officials confirmed.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations under the Taliban administration has announced the release of 29 Afghan migrants from Pakistani prisons. According to a statement released on Tuesday, April 29, the individuals were repatriated to Afghanistan via the Spin Boldak border crossing. The Ministry emphasized that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of more detained Afghan migrants across Pakistan.

Taliban authorities reported that these Afghan nationals had been arrested in various regions of Pakistan. Most detainees reportedly spent between one to three days in detention facilities before their release. The Ministry did not specify the charges under which these individuals were initially arrested, but emphasized that they were being returned safely to their homeland.

This development comes amid a broader pattern witnessed over the past week, where hundreds of Afghan migrants have been freed from Pakistani prisons and repatriated. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly expressed concern about the treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, urging for humane handling and adherence to international refugee protection standards.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s government continues its campaign to deport undocumented Afghan nationals. According to reports from Dawn News , more than 120,000 Afghan migrants have been expelled within less than a month, under Islamabad’s strict immigration enforcement measures. Pakistani officials claim the policy targets only those without valid documentation, although many humanitarian groups criticize the mass deportations as being conducted without due process.

The increasing number of deportations and arrests has placed immense pressure on Afghan border provinces like Kandahar and Nangarhar. The sudden influx of returnees strains local resources and complicates Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, which the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) already categorizes as one of the world’s most severe emergencies.

while the release of Afghan migrants is seen as a small positive development, the ongoing deportation campaign highlights the precarious situation faced by Afghan refugees in the region. Continued international attention and diplomatic efforts are needed to ensure that the rights and dignity of Afghan migrants are protected during these challenging times.

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