Afghan deportees from Pakistan are sharing tough stories of police mistreatment there and the struggles they’re facing back home. Many are urging Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate and aid groups to step up with shelter and help as they rebuild their lives.
Take Shireen Del, who arrived back just 12 days ago after leaving Lahore. “We had so many problems in Pakistan,” she told Tolo News. “We’re heading to Kunduz now, but I have nothing—no home, no support.”
Ahmad, another returnee, echoed that frustration. “We came from Pakistan with empty hands,” he said. “I own no land, nothing at all. The Islamic Emirate needs to help us out.”
Shamila added that life in Pakistan grew unbearable. “The police caused endless troubles, and the whole situation was so hard,” she shared.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s federal government has shut down five long-standing Afghan refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local media reports. These camps had run for four decades, providing a haven for thousands fleeing conflict. Three sat in Haripur, one in Chitral, and another in Upper Dir. The biggest, Panian camp in Haripur, once sheltered more than 100,000 Afghan refugees.
The closures come amid a massive wave of returns. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that over 2.8 million Afghans have come back from Iran and Pakistan so far in 2025. Recent earthquakes in Afghanistan have made things even harder, hitting vulnerable families the worst.
UNHCR notes that while encashment centers inside Afghanistan stay closed due to limits on female staff, the agency keeps delivering cash aid and other essentials right at the border crossings.
Refugee rights activist Nazar Nazari warns these camp shutdowns will make life tougher for Afghan deportees. “Closing these spots in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ramps up the challenges big time,” he told Tolo News. “They were safe havens for thousands of families—especially women, kids, and the elderly—who got basic aid and a place to stay.”
Just last week, Afghanistan’s Commission for Refugee Affairs counted 48,024 returns from Iran and Pakistan, highlighting the urgent need for more support as deportations from Pakistan continue.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
