527 Afghan Migrants Released from Pakistani Prisons and Returned Home

The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced that 527 Afghan migrants have been released from Pakistani prisons over the past week and returned to Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings. The ministry confirmed this in a statement published on Thursday, April 30.

According to photos released by the Taliban administration, women were also among those freed. No details have been provided regarding the duration of their detention or their legal status.

In recent months, the detention of Afghan migrants in Pakistan has increased. Sources report that Pakistani police have, in some cases, extorted and blackmailed migrants—a claim that has caused widespread concern among migrant families.

Previously, Amnesty International called on Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, to halt the illegal detention of Afghan migrants and ensure their rights are protected under international standards.

The surge in arrests continues amid thousands of Afghan families being forced to migrate due to the country’s economic hardships and broad internal restrictions. However, the Taliban administration has yet to present a clear and effective plan to support returning migrants or address their problems.