Pakistan releases 208 Afghan detainees from its prisons

Afghanistan's Foreign Affairs department anunced release and repatriation of 208 detainees from Pakistani jails, reported Kabul-based Khaama Press.  Foreign Affairs Department of Afghanistan ded that Afghan Embassy in Islamab and Afghan Consulate General in Karachi collaborated to ensure safe return of 208 released detainees.

According to statement, Taliban government of Afghanistan provided financial assistance for transfer of all prisoners to Kabul. Afghan Diaspora Network has reported that over one million Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan are caught between Taliban and Islamab, as latter is allegedly pressuring m into returning to Afghanistan and facing a precarious existence.

Afghan civilians have been compelled to flee ir homes repeatedly over past few deces, whenever nation has been plunged into conflicts, including during Cold War era and after resurgence of Taliban. report stated that Pakistan has played a "snakes and lders" game with Afghan people over years.

According to Afghan Diaspora Network, Afghan refugees were initially exploited by Pakistan as a means to gain influence in Afghanistan and pursue its strategic objective of retaining Kabul as its "strategic backyard".

In wake of Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, over 600,000 Afghan nationals have sought refuge in Pakistan, joining four million Afghan refugees alrey residing in country. Among m, only 1.32 million individuals are registered with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"After 2001, situation changed. Afghan refugees were longer welcome. Pakistan imposed stricter monitoring on refugees and implemented sterner detention and deportation policies. w y are being pushed back into hell from where y h fled," stated report.

Khaama Press reported that in March of this year, Taliban-appointed Refugees and Repatriation Department declared that over 2,000 Afghan refugees h returned to ir homeland from Iran and Pakistan.

Refugees and Repatriation Department anunced on Twitter that on Saturday, 1,851 Afghan refugees who h been residing in Iran and 331 ors who were in Pakistan returned home through Spin Boldak and Islamqala crossing points. department also ted that out of 331 refugees who returned from Pakistan, 70 individuals were released from Pakistani prisons.

Earlier, Pakistan Human Rights Commission and United Nations Refugee ncy h previously urged Pakistani government to treat Afghan citizens humanely.