The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations reported that more than 170,000 Afghan migrants were deported from neighboring countries between April 1 and May 12 of the current year.

According to the ministry, of this total, 128,000 were deported from Pakistan, over 43,000 from Iran, and 1,322 from Turkey.

Abdulmutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations, stated: “From April 1 to May 12 of the current year, 171,937 migrants returned to the country, including 128,048 from Pakistan, 34,752 from Iran, and 13,022 from Turkey.”

The spokesperson also said that more than 3,300 Afghan prisoners were released during this period from various prisons in Pakistan.

These Afghans were mostly detained for lacking legal documentation and returned via the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings.

Some experts have emphasized the need for the caretaker government to follow up on the status of citizens—especially detainees—in foreign countries.

Mohammad Zalmai Afghan-Yar, a political affairs analyst, said: “When Afghan citizens are imprisoned in regional and extra-regional countries, the caretaker government must use diplomatic channels to secure their release.”

In addition to neighboring countries, a number of Afghan citizens are also reportedly detained in some Arab nations for various reasons, including illegal residency.

Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported the release of nine Afghan nationals from prisons in Oman.