LOWER DIR: Residents of Upper Dir bid a heartfelt farewell to Afghan refugees during a ceremony organized by the Sultankhel and Paindakhel tribes in Wari. The event drew widespread attention after a video of two young Afghan schoolgirls saying goodbye to classmates went viral on social media.
The farewell was held at the Jirga Hall in Wari and attended by local elders, political and religious leaders, residents, and Afghan refugees. During the ceremony, the girls performed a short tableau showing their departure from school, leaving the audience visibly emotional. Gifts and cash were presented to the girls, with public donations reportedly reaching around Rs60,000 within minutes.
Heartbreaking farewell moments of two Afghan girls studying at Allama Iqbal Public School in the Wari area of Lower Dir, even the teachers were moved to tears pic.twitter.com/N2ApwvpuIT
— Pakistan Connect (@Pak_Connect) December 22, 2025
A video highlighting the affection and compassion shown by local residents towards Afghan refugee children quickly went viral on social media.https://t.co/VAAdrS14RC
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 22, 2025
The viral video highlighted the compassion and affection of locals toward Afghan refugee children, garnering over 10 million views within 24 hours. The footage, filmed by local journalist Jamil Rughani, received praise from audiences across Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Elderly Afghan refugee Qari Abdul Saboor requested local leaders to stand surety for refugees and appealed for the government to defer repatriation until spring, citing harsh winter conditions in Afghanistan. Refugees expressed gratitude to the Pakistani government and local communities for their hospitality over the years.
Former federal minister Najmuddin Khan recalled the 2008 Pakistan-Afghanistan-UN roadmap for refugee repatriation, under which Proof of Registration cardholders received visas, transport, and financial assistance. He noted that while some refugees returned to Afghanistan, many later re-entered Pakistan.
Local leaders including Sahibzada Tariqullah, Malik Bahram Khan, and others praised the peaceful coexistence of Afghan refugees in Upper Dir. They also criticized the Afghan Taliban’s stance toward Pakistan, citing cross-border militancy, and reiterated support for the government’s repatriation policy.
According to district records, 2,451 Afghan nationals were living in Upper Dir, with 157 already repatriated and the return of 2,295 more underway. Refugees thanked local tribes and authorities for their humane treatment, promising to cherish memories of their stay.