Thousands of Afghans, who were residing in Pakistan illegally without any official documents for several years, have crossed over to the country of their origin before the deadline of 1 November even as the Pakistani authorities started arresting and deporting the rest, reports say.
However, many Afghan refugees who went back to Afghanistan were quoted by media reports as saying that they had nothing there as they had left the country several years ago.
"I am very sad about leaving my house. I can't express in words the pain I felt leaving it,” one of the refugees was quoted as saying by the reports.
Over 200,000 Afghans have crossed over to their native country from Pakistan in the past two months, and the recent daily returnee figures have gone up by three times than normal, they said.
Pakistan authorities have already began identifying people still living there without permission.
First, people who do not have any documentation would be deported as the policy is only aimed at those residing in the country illegally, Pakistani officials reportedly said.
Meanwhile, UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, has also reassured people that there would be no action against those who have refugee cards or related documents.
Reports say, Pakistan has four million Afghan migrants and refugees, about 1.7 million of whom are undocumented.
Pakistan has witnessed people travel across the border for four decades for various reasons, including safety and security. It mainly started in 1979 with Soviet invasion and was on till recently when Taliban* took over Afghanistan in 2021.