Pakistani Police Demolish Homes of Afghan Refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Images show that Pakistani police have demolished homes of Afghan refugees in the Akora Khattak camp and other camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The demolitions are occurring alongside ongoing forced deportations of Afghan refugees. Families who have lived for years across the border are being compelled to leave homes they built over time.

Mahmood, an Afghan refugee in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said: "We built our homes as if they were our permanent houses. Now I don’t even know where my home is or where I will live. They take us to Torkham, but after that we don’t know where to go or where to take our belongings."

Nazar Nazari, a migrant rights activist, said: "This decision reflects greater strictness by Pakistan toward the long-term presence of Afghan refugees and sends a direct message to the refugee community."

Gul Zaman, another Afghan refugee in the province, said: "We are laborers. Our homes have been destroyed. I have children—where should I go and what should I do?"

The repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has intensified since last year. Pakistani officials have repeatedly stated that individuals without legal documents must leave the country.

According to international organizations, hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan in recent months. Many face serious challenges upon return, including lack of shelter, unemployment and limited access to basic services.

Separately, some residents in Tirah, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have described hardships they are facing. Ahmad, one of the displaced people from Tirah, said: "The hardship is severe. People have been stranded in the recent snowfall, markets are closed, and people urgently need assistance."