561 Afghan Migrants Released from Pakistani Prisons and Return Home

The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has announced that 561 Afghan migrants were released from Pakistani prisons over the past week and have returned to Afghanistan. According to the ministry, these individuals had been detained by Pakistani authorities due to “residence document issues.”

In a statement released on Thursday, May 14, the ministry said that after their release, these migrants entered Afghanistan through the Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar province and the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar province. These two border points are among the main routes for the movement and return of migrants between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

At the same time, reports indicate that Pakistani police have intensified the detention of Afghan migrants in recent weeks. Sources claim that in some cases, the detained migrants were also subjected to extortion and bribery.

Amnesty International had earlier urged Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to halt the unlawful detention of Afghan migrants and to ensure they are treated in accordance with international commitments.

Within Afghanistan, there have consistently been criticisms that the Taliban administration has not developed a clear and effective program to support returning migrants or to address their documentation and livelihood challenges—raising growing concerns about the welfare of these families after their return.