Torkham border be opened for allowing Afghan refugees to return

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2026) Elders of Afghan Refugees Council from Kohat, led by Malik Mujahid Shinwari, Malik Awal Khan and Malik Shah Mahmood demanded from government that the decision of the mega operation be held completely and all Afghan refugees be given time till Eid to spend Eid-ul-Fitr with their families in Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, they said that after Eid, we will must go to Afghanistan.

Malik Awal Khan said that we are grateful to Pakistan for hosting us for 46 years when our honor was in danger at the hands of Russia.

He said that Pakistani government should return the money owed to Afghan businessmen so that they can go to Afghanistan and live a peaceful life.

He said that the children who are studying should be provided with opportunities to complete their education because there is no educational institution in Afghanistan at this time due to lack of infrastructure.

He further said that the UNHCR has played a very disappointing role during the migration of Afghan refugees to Afghanistan. UNHCR should provide basic facilities to the Afghan refugees migrating to Afghanistan, he added.

Representatives of Afghan Refugees Council of Kohat demanded that all Afghan refugees imprisoned in the jails of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa be released for Eid so that they can spend the joys of Eid with their families and children and return to Afghanistan in a good manner.

They said around 970 Afghan refugees from Kohat have been arrested by Police and are currently detained in different jails. They should be allowed to spend Eid with their families.

The elders further said that we accept every decision of the Pakistani government and we are grateful to the government that the government and the people of Pakistan have respected us, so we should also respect Pakistani laws and travel to Pakistan through travel documents.