SWABI: Twenty-eight families of the Afghan refugees have left for their native country Afghanistan from Afghan refugees camp Gohati here on Thursday, said officials.

Three days back the district administration had sealed shops in the Gohati refugees camp and asked the Afghan nationals to go back their motherland voluntarily as soon as possible without any delay.

Officials made it clear that Afghan refugees no longer can stay in the camp because the policy adopted by the government regarding their return would be implemented in any case.

Officials who monitor the repatriation of the Afghans told Dawn that the 28 families comprising of 157 people including women and children embarked on their journey to their homeland.

Officials said thatmany more Afghan nationals are preparing to return to their country because now they have understood that they cannot stay more in the camps.

They also said that due to insecure situation in Afghanistan and deterioration of Pakistan-Afghan relations, the truckers here were not ready to take them backto Afghanistan because they believed that their lives would be in danger.

On the other hand, officials said there was no progress from the Gandaf camp, Topi Tehsil, and it seems that their markets and shops will also be sealed soon.

The assistant commissioner of Tehsil Topi along with other officials have already held a jirga with Afghan nationals of the camp, urging them to return to their country by adopting the option of voluntary return.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2026