The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has announced that more than 5.09 million Afghans have returned to the country since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, marking a significant shift in regional migration patterns.

Speaking at a press conference, ministry spokesperson Abdul Mutalib Haqqani revealed that in just the past two months of the current Afghan calendar year, approximately 268,000 Afghans have returned from Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. He described the influx as part of a broader repatriation trend observed over recent years.

However, the situation is complicated by a surge in deportations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that more than 500,000 Afghans have been forcibly deported from Iran and Pakistan during the same two-month period, highlighting growing pressures on host countries and refugees alike.

The UN refugee agency expressed concern over the pace and conditions of the returns, warning that Afghanistan is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis exacerbated by dwindling international aid and limited reintegration infrastructure.

“Returns must be conducted in a dignified, voluntary, and safe manner,” the UNHCR emphasized, urging the international community to step up support for returnees and vulnerable populations inside Afghanistan.

Human rights organizations and aid agencies have echoed similar concerns, warning that mass returns without adequate planning and support could strain already fragile services, increase internal displacement, and heighten risks for vulnerable groups.

The developments come amid worsening economic and humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan, where millions still rely on foreign assistance and many returnees face limited access to jobs, housing, and essential services. (ILKHA)