PESHAWAR (Oct 17) – Pakistan has shut down 28 additional Afghan refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said on Friday, as part of the government’s ongoing nationwide crackdown on illegal foreign residents.
According to a notification issued by the Interior Ministry, the closures include eight camps in Peshawar, three in Nowshera, five in Hangu, four in Kohat, and two in Mardan. Two more camps were shut in Swabi, one in Buner, and three in Dir districts.
Authorities have been directed to hand over vehicles, equipment, and other facilities previously allocated to the refugee camps back to their respective district administrations.
The move is part of Pakistan’s broader policy to expel undocumented foreign nationals, the majority of whom are Afghan refugees. Islamabad says the measure is aimed at improving internal security, though rights groups and the United Nations have urged Pakistan to halt forced deportations, citing humanitarian concerns.
Officials estimate that over 1.7 million Afghans are living in Pakistan without legal documentation. Thousands have already left the country voluntarily or under pressure since the crackdown began earlier this year.