KABUL – In a massive wave of forced returns, more than 16,000 Afghan refugees were deported from Iran and Pakistan in a single day, according to Taliban officials, placing immense strain on the country’s already fragile humanitarian and economic infrastructure.
The surge in returns highlights the ongoing plight of Afghan refugees as neighboring countries accelerate expulsion campaigns, citing economic and security concerns.
Unprecedented Scale of Returns
On Tuesday, Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), reported that a total of 16,243 individuals, comprising 2,963 families, crossed the border on Monday. The returnees entered Afghanistan through major border crossings, including:
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Islam Qala in Herat (from Iran)
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Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz (from Iran)
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Spin Boldak in Kandahar (from Pakistan)
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Bahramcha in Helmand (from Pakistan)
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Torkham (from Pakistan)
According to Fitrat, the majority of the returnees—2,161 families (11,772 individuals)—were transported to their provinces of origin. He noted that 1,882 individuals received immediate humanitarian assistance, and telecommunication companies distributed 2,958 SIM cards to help them reconnect.
A Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
This single-day figure is part of a much larger, alarming trend. Over the past year, Pakistan and Iran have escalated their efforts to send Afghan refugees back, with hundreds of thousands having already returned. Many arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs, facing a dire future in a nation grappling with severe economic contraction, widespread unemployment, and one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
“The scale is staggering, but the capacity to absorb them is not,” said a representative from a local aid agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We are seeing families return to nothing—no home, no job, and no food security. The coming winter will be particularly harsh for them.”
Context of the Deportations
The deportations come amid strained relations between the Taliban administration and its neighbors.
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Pakistan has long hosted millions of Afghans but began a stringent crackdown last year, targeting both documented and undocumented refugees. Islamabad has justified the policy by pointing to security concerns and its own economic challenges.
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Iran, facing its own economic pressures, has periodically carried out deportations of Afghan workers for decades, with recent rounds being particularly large.
The Taliban administration has consistently criticized the deportations, calling them “unacceptable” and “inhumane,” while simultaneously claiming it is working to welcome and reintegrate its citizens. However, international observers remain deeply concerned about the country’s ability to provide for the basic needs of the returnees, especially as foreign aid has significantly diminished since the IEA’s takeover in 2021.
As the influx continues, aid agencies warn of a rapidly escalating emergency that requires urgent international attention and support to prevent a full-blown catastrophe.
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