Hamdullah Fetrat, the Taliban's deputy spokesman, announced that 162 migrant families, comprising 698 individuals, were forcibly returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries on Tuesday, October 13, alone. This is part of a massive wave of deportations of Afghan migrants, particularly from Pakistan and Iran.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Fetrat provided details of the returns. According to him, 29 families (144 people) re-entered the country through the Torkham crossing, and 19 families (89 people) came through the Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar. These are the two main border crossings with Pakistan.
The largest number of returnees came from the border with Iran. A total of 96 families (408 people) returned via the Pul-e Aisham (Silk idge) in Nimruz province, and another 18 families (57 people) crossed back into Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border in Herat province.
The forced return of Afghan migrants has intensified in recent months, creating severe humanitarian challenges for Afghanistan. Many of these families, after living for years in neighboring countries, have lost their assets and are returning to the country without shelter or basic necessities.
International aid agencies have repeatedly warned about the consequences of these mass deportations, stating that Afghanistan, given its severe economic crisis and lack of resources, does not have the capacity to absorb and integrate such a large number of returnees.
The Taliban government has said it has established committees to address the situation of the returnees, but the scale of the needs far exceeds the available resources. With the onset of winter, these migrants will face even more serious problems, including a lack of housing and food.
Source: Hamdullah Fetrat, Taliban Deputy Spokesman
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