According to the Taliban’s High Commission for Refugee Affairs, a total of 17,724 individuals returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan over just two days—August 12 and 13 (21–22 Asad).
Roughly 35 percent of returnees arrived via Pakistan, while the majority entered through the Islam Qala and Pul-e Abrisham border crossings in Herat and Nimroz provinces, respectively.
The Taliban’s figures also show that more than 63,000 people have returned from these neighboring countries since August 4 (14 Asad)—a span of less than ten days.
The surge in returns comes as Afghanistan faces a deepening humanitarian crisis. The United Nations estimates that half of the country’s population now requires humanitarian assistance. Despite these conditions, Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan—all neighboring and linguistically linked countries—are pressing ahead with large-scale deportations.
Tajikistan has accused Afghan migrants of engaging in “illegal activities.” Iran has labeled them “Israeli spies,” while Pakistan claims the returnees are contributing to a rise in “terrorist incidents.”
Reports indicate that Pakistan has begun deporting even those with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. Pakistani officials stated yesterday that around 30,000 individuals have been removed from Quetta alone within the past month.
Migration remains a highly contentious issue in the Taliban’s diplomatic relations with neighboring states. Taliban authorities have repeatedly urged these governments to ensure that deportations are carried out gradually and with respect for human dignity and legal rights.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that over 4 million people have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries in the past two years—many of them, the Taliban and international agencies say, through forced returns.
