Afghan gov't to build shelters for returned refugees

The Afghan caretaker government has announced building shelters for refugees returning from neighboring Pakistan amid an increase in the number of returnees, the state-run, Xinhua reported citing local media.

Acting Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Khalil Rahman Haqqani instructed the construction of shelters during his recent visit to the Torkham crossing point which borders Pakistan, according to the report.

More than 150,000 Afghan refugees have returned home from Pakistan via Torkham over the past few days, the report said.

More than 200,000 Afghan refugees, with the majority of them via Torkham border town and some via Spin Boldam and other crossing points, have reportedly returned to their homeland over the past month.

The Afghan caretaker government's chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, that authorities in Torkham are preparing 10,000 lunches and 30,000 dinners for the returnees on Thursday.

Pakistan reportedly decided to send back 1.7 million undocumented Afghan refugees to their homeland after decades of stay in the host country, while the Afghan administration has urged Islamabad to reconsider the decision.