In the wake of an ultimatum issued by the Pakistani government a month ago, over 165,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan, fearing arrest and deportation. The ultimatum affected an estimated 1.7 million Afghans, compelling them to leave the country or face legal repercussions.
The Provincial Home Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province reported that just over 129,000 Afghans fled the region. Simultaneously, the border officials in Chaman, Balochistan, revealed that a total of 38,100 individuals crossed the border, seeking refuge in their homeland.
As the November 1 deadline neared, a significant number of Afghans rushed to the border, fearing the consequences of not complying with the government’s directive. To manage the situation, authorities initiated the opening of multiple holding centers to detain those who were arrested.
The situation was particularly critical at the Torkham border point in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which happens to be the country’s busiest border crossing. Officials there worked tirelessly into the early hours of Thursday morning to process and clear a queue of around 28,000 people, spanning over seven kilometers.
Abdul Nasir Khan, the Deputy Commissioner of the border district, emphasized that a surge in the number of illegal Afghans arriving at Torkham was due to the impending deadline. He noted that individuals can still choose to return voluntarily, although only 1,000 were present at the border that day.
The mass exodus of Afghans in response to the government’s ultimatum is a significant development with far-reaching humanitarian and geopolitical implications. The international community will be closely monitoring this situation as it unfolds.
