Hundreds of refugees, many sheltering in the open, are exposed to extreme cold and hardship.
Heavy rains and strong winds batter the city, destroying walls and exposing structural vulnerabilities. Photo: Online
KHYBER:
The repatriation of Afghan refugees home continues at a steady pace, with more than 10,000 having already returned to Afghanistan. Thousands more have arrived at the detention camp established at Landi Kotal after the return crossing, while a large number from various districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab are also reaching the center for entry, registration and return formalities.
However, the process has been slowed by lack of basic facilities, understaffing and technical problems, causing concern among refugees and local residents.
Heavy rains in the area in recent days have further compounded the difficulties faced by those staying in the camp. The downpours not only disrupted repatriation activities, but also exposed hundreds of refugees, many of whom were sheltering in the open, to intense cold and hardship. In a display of traditional Pashtun hospitality, residents of Landi Kotal provided shelter in their hujras (guest rooms) to several affected families, protecting them from the rain. However, many other families remained in the fields, deprived of basic amenities.
Local social organizations and social activists played a commendable role in distributing food, water and warm items at the camp and along the approach routes to mitigate the impact of rain and cold. Community leaders welcomed this spirit of humanitarian support while emphasizing the need for more organized and sustained relief efforts.
Delays in immigration and registration processes have emerged as a major bottleneck. Afghan refugees and former Landi Kotal locals have demanded an increase in immigration staff to speed up registration. They noted that previously processing was also carried out at the Torkham border, allowing the load to be spread out. Today, with all activities centralized at the Landi Kotal detention camp, overcrowding has intensified.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has set up 10 counters in the camp, but only two are dedicated to preparing manifestos. These handle full documentation, including fingerprints and photographs, of children over the age of 10, leading to long queues and hours of waiting for many refugees. Officials acknowledged that increasing the number of windows could speed up the process.
NADRA authorities have highlighted additional challenges, including difficulties in obtaining fingerprints due to the presence of henna on Afghan women’s hands and rough skin on men’s hands, which slow biometric verification. Weak internet connectivity further hampered data transmission, leading to more delays in registration.
The Torkham border crossing is currently open only for the return of Afghan refugees, while regular pedestrian traffic and commercial activities remain completely suspended. Other crossing points along the Pakistan-Afghan border are also closed to trade, seriously affecting the local economy. Traders, transporters, hoteliers, customs clearance agents and daily wage workers in Landi Kotal have urged the government to reopen the border for commercial activities as soon as possible to restore the livelihood of thousands of people.
Local elders warned that the prolonged border closure had sharply increased unemployment and virtually halted commercial activity in the region. They warned that if the situation was not improved quickly, it would lead to greater economic hardship for local people.
On the directives of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, his elder brother Naveed Afridi visited the Afghan refugee detention camp at Landi Kotal. He was accompanied by officials from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Khyber district administration. During the visit, the team reviewed the camp facilities, problems faced by refugees and general administrative arrangements.
Naveed Afridi announced immediate relief measures, specifying that 70 tents would be set up initially, as well as three large communal tents to meet collective needs. He ordered the establishment of a regular medical camp to provide prompt care to the sick. Instructions have also been issued to ensure a regular supply of food items.
On the special orders of Chief Minister Afridi, tents and food supplies have already been delivered to the camp and distributed to the Afghan refugees. Officials said complaints about NADRA were taken seriously and relevant departments were instructed to resolve the issues promptly.
