KABUL – In a significant surge of forced repatriations, more than 11,800 Afghan refugees were expelled from neighboring Pakistan and Iran and returned to their homeland on Saturday, according to a Taliban official. The mass return highlights a deepening refugee crisis and mounting humanitarian challenges within Afghanistan.
The announcement was made on Sunday by Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA). Citing a report from the High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues, Fitrat stated that 2,102 families, comprising 11,855 individuals, crossed the border in a single day.
Key Entry Points and Distribution
The returnees entered Afghanistan through five major border crossings, which have become critical transit points in the ongoing exodus:
Islam Qala in Herat (from Iran)
Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz (from Iran)
Spin Boldak in Kandahar (from Pakistan)
Bahramcha in Helmand (from Pakistan)
Torkham in Nangarhar (from Pakistan)
According to Fitrat, the IEA facilitated the transport of 2,287 returnee families (13,246 individuals) to their home provinces across Afghanistan. Additionally, 1,760 families received some form of humanitarian assistance. In a move to aid reintegration, about 1,060 SIM cards from local telecommunication networks were also distributed to the new arrivals.
A Pattern of Accelerated Forced Returns
This single-day figure is part of a larger, accelerating trend. Just days earlier, a separate group of 4,268 Afghan refugees had been forcibly repatriated from Iran and Pakistan. The policies of both neighboring countries have placed immense strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile economy and social services.
From Pakistan: The repatriation drive follows a directive from Islamabad last year targeting the estimated 1.7 million Afghans it claims are living in the country illegally. Authorities have set deadlines and have been detaining and deporting thousands, citing security concerns and economic pressures.
From Iran: Tehran has long pursued a policy of returning Afghan migrants, often citing similar economic and social reasons. Many of those returning report having faced difficult conditions and pressure to leave.
Humanitarian Concerns and an Uncertain Future
The mass return of refugees presents a severe challenge for the Taliban administration, which is grappling with international isolation, a crippled economy, and one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. The United Nations and various aid agencies have repeatedly warned that Afghanistan is ill-equipped to absorb such a large number of returnees, especially as it heads into the harsh winter months.
Many of those returning arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs, facing a future of unemployment, food insecurity, and a lack of basic services. They are returning to a nation still reeling from decades of conflict and where livelihoods are scarce.
While the IEA has stated it welcomes its citizens back and is providing limited assistance, the scale of the need far outstrips the resources available. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with aid groups scrambling to provide support at transit camps and in destination communities, warning of a potential catastrophe if the repatriations continue at this pace.
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