More than 4,000 Afghan nationals have been deported from Pakistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings over the past two days, according to the Taliban government’s High Commission for Migrants. The deportations come after Pakistan’s deadline for undocumented Afghan nationals to leave the country expired two days ago. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry had earlier instructed local authorities to begin detaining all Afghans without legal documents from 10 July. Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban government, said newly returned families at the border crossings had received cash assistance and basic healthcare services. Images released by news agencies showed Afghan families packing their belongings and returning to Afghanistan following the expiry of the deadline. Pakistani media have reported that around 20,000 Afghan migrants are expected to be deported from the city of Peshawar alone. The latest move has heightened concerns among Afghan migrants, particularly business owners and investors who have spent decades living and working in Pakistan. Some told the BBC they were staying indoors for fear of being arrested.
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