KABUL, May 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 491 Afghan inmates and 4,772 refugees have returned to their homeland from neighboring Pakistan, official authorities announced on Thursday.

The detainees, held on various charges in prisons across Pakistan, returned home through the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province and the Torkham crossing in eastern Nangarhar province, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said in a statement.

Meanwhile, as many as 4,772 Afghan refugees returned to their homeland from Pakistan in a single day on Wednesday, the country's High Commission for Addressing Returnees' Problems reported.

Upon arrival, the returnees and detainees received immediate humanitarian assistance before being transported to their respective home provinces for reintegration support.

Nearly 3 million Afghan refugees have reportedly returned home from neighboring Iran and Pakistan over the past year, and both countries have asked undocumented foreign nationals to put an end to their illegal stay and return home. ■