Over 5,500 Afghan refugees return home from Pakistan

More than 5,500 Afghan refugees returned to their home country on Monday, said a statement of Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs on Tuesday.

A total of 5,640 refugees returned from Pakistan via Torkham and Spin Boldak crossing points to Afghanistan on Monday, the statement said, adding that the returnees have received necessary assistance.

Similarly, more than 3,000 Afghan refugees returned from Iran on Monday, the ministry said.

Reportedly, 2.5 million Afghan refugees have been living in Pakistan, with a similar number in Iran.

More than 400,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland over the past two months, according to local media reports.

The Afghan caretaker administration has said it will provide necessary facilities including temporary shelters to the returnees in winter.

xinhua