KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The ongoing cross-border hostilities between Pakistan and the Taliban forces have forced nearly 66,000 people to flee their homes in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday.
In a statement, the UN migration agency said the fighting has caused civilian casualties, damaged critical infrastructure, and disrupted humanitarian operations in areas already under strain from previous displacement and natural disasters.
“IOM is deeply concerned about the escalating cross-border hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan and their growing humanitarian impact on civilians and people on the move,” the agency said. It added that the protection of civilians and humanitarian facilities must be upheld and that safe, sustained access is essential to continue lifesaving assistance.
The agency said at least one IOM transit center in Nangarhar province sustained significant damage during the hostilities, limiting support for returnees arriving in the area. Border operations at Torkham and Bahramcha have been temporarily suspended due to security concerns, restricting the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Afghanistan is already grappling with one of the world’s largest returnee-related displacement crises, having received over five million returnees in the past two years, including 2.6 million in 2025 alone. IOM warns that any additional conflict-driven displacement could overwhelm border infrastructure, local services, and host communities that are already under pressure.
In Kunar province, families who were displaced by a recent earthquake are now facing the threat of secondary displacement due to cross-border shelling and evacuation orders, IOM said, adding that many of these households have limited safe relocation options.
The agency said vulnerabilities rise sharply during active conflict, particularly for women and children who depend on shelter support, protection services, and community assistance networks.
IOM called for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to ensure that lifesaving assistance can continue. The organization said it remains committed to supporting displaced and returning populations in coordination with partners and authorities as security conditions allow.
The clashes started last Thursday evening when the Taliban launched a retaliatory operation against Pakistani border positions in response to Pakistani airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. Since then, Pakistan has conducted additional airstrikes on multiple locations, including Kabul and Kandahar, while ground fighting along the border has continued.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said preliminary estimates indicate that at least 42 civilians have been killed and 104 others injured in Pakistani airstrikes and border clashes in Afghanistan.
Regional governments, including Iran, China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, as well as the United Kingdom and the United Nations, have urged both sides to halt hostilities and resolve their dispute through dialogue. Some countries have also offered to mediate to reduce tensions.
Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have deteriorated since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering fighters from the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and allowing cross-border attacks, allegations the Taliban deny.
