KABUL: A total of 9,951 Afghan nationals who had been imprisoned in Pakistan and Iran have been set free and returned to their homeland, Afghanistan, over the past 12 months, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced on Wednesday (July 30).
Among them, 9,541 had been detained in Pakistan due to a lack of legal documents, while an additional 410 were freed from prisons in Iran, said Mawlawi Mahmud-ul-Haq Ahadi, head of planning and policy for the ministry, during an accountability programme.
The official stated that upon their return, they were supported by the ministry in coordination with aid organisations and transported to their home provinces.
Right now, over 10,000 Afghan citizens are imprisoned abroad, the majority of whom are being held in Iran and Pakistan, according to data released last week by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. - Xinhua
