Around 412,184 allegedly illegal Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan have returned to Afghanistan. Out of the 2,028 Afghan citizens, 478 were men, 336 women, and 1,214 were children. Earlier, a youth who exploded himself in a rickshaw in Bakka Khel, Bannu on November 26 reportedly turned out to be an Afghan citizen who entered Pakistan based on a Tazkr-e-Afghanistan identity card. On November 26, a motorcycle-borne suicide bomber, affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and later identified as an Afghan national, exploded himself on a security forces convoy in the area of Bakka Khel in Bannu district. As a result, two civilians were killed and 10 others, including three soldiers, were injured.

Experts questioned the Afghan government for issuing legal documents to a Khawarij and a terrorist member of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Public hails return of illegal Afghans to Afghanistan On October 1, the government and the Pakistan Army in the Apex Committee meeting, decided to send the Afghans back to their country. After the deadline of October 31, only illegal Afghans were ensured a safe and dignified evacuation from Pakistan. The deportation of illegal aliens is having a positive impact on the country's economy. In this regard, the citizens expressed their views and said that the move taken by the government to evacuate the Afghans is very good, it has made a great difference to our economy.

Several citizens said street crime has reduced significantly since Afghans left and there has been a huge reduction in the number of robberies. “Our state decides for us what is best for us,” a citizen said. "Since the Afghans have left, our businesses have started to recover and the number of thefts has decreased,” another citizen said, adding that, since the Afghans have left, the incidents of terrorism have started to decrease.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)