By Islamuddin Sajid
ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan on Thursday said nearly 800,000 illegal Afghan nationals returned to their home country in the past one year, after Islamabad launched a repatriation drive last November.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told a weekly press briefing in Islamabad that the process still continues to ensure a "successful and smooth return" of illegal Afghan nationals.
"Since November 2023 to October 2024, so far 757,008 undocumented Afghans were sent back to Afghanistan," she said, adding that the figure also includes those who returned voluntarily.
According to UN figures, some 1.3 million Afghans enjoy the status of registered refugees in Pakistan, while another 880,000 have legal status to stay.
Pakistan started its crackdown on all foreigners illegally staying in the country, citing a rise in militant attacks. Islamabad says anti-Pakistan terrorist groups have been provided sanctuary in Afghanistan, who have stepped up attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visited Pakistan in July and called for efforts towards longer-term solutions for Afghans in Pakistan.