KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban’s “Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Problems” says that yesterday (Saturday, April 25), 4,088 migrants were deported from Pakistan and entered Afghanistan.
The commission also stated that on the same day, another 141 people were deported from Iran and returned to Afghanistan.
According to the statement by the Taliban’s “Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Problems,” these individuals entered Afghanistan through the border crossings of Torkham, Spin Boldak, Bahramcha, Islam Qala, and Pul-e-Abrisham.
Pakistan has recently increased the deportation of Afghan migrants and is expelling thousands of people on a daily basis.
These developments come amid growing humanitarian concerns, as many of the returnees face uncertain conditions upon arrival in Afghanistan, including limited access to shelter, employment, and basic services.
Human Rights Watch also reported that Pakistani authorities have intensified arbitrary arrests and forced deportations of Afghan migrants following recent clashes with the Taliban.
According to the organization, police operations targeting Afghan communities have created widespread fear and have restricted access to essential services such as healthcare and education, particularly affecting vulnerable groups including children.
The organization further stated that since February 2026, police have expanded operations in multiple cities, conducting house-to-house raids, nighttime searches, and arrests without warrants.
Many refugees, including those with valid visas, have been detained and transferred to holding centers before deportation.
Human Rights Watch noted that over 146,000 Afghan nationals have been deported from Pakistan in 2026 alone, while many refugees remain undocumented due to the suspension of residency document renewals since 2023, increasing their risk of detention and forced return.
The deportations coincide with the ongoing conflict between the Taliban and Pakistan. Islamabad closed key border crossings in late February following the outbreak of the conflict, disrupting trade and travel, before reopening them in recent days primarily to facilitate deportations. Other forms of cross-border movement remain largely restricted.
Afghan migrants in Iran have also been affected by the ongoing conflict between the country and the United States and Israel. Local reports indicate that six members of an Afghan family were killed when a strike hit their home in Tehran’s Shahr-e Rey district. An earlier strike in Varamin, southeast of the capital, also killed an Afghan migrant. Afghan communities in Iran, many of whom have lived there for years, face increasing uncertainty as tensions persist.
The rise in returns comes as Afghanistan faces a worsening humanitarian situation. UN estimates nearly 22 million people, close to half the population, require humanitarian assistance this year, while around 4 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition.
Many returnees are families who had been living in Pakistan and Iran for years or decades and now face difficulties reintegrating into communities with limited infrastructure and economic opportunities. Humanitarian organizations warn that without sustained support, returnees could face rising poverty and displacement inside Afghanistan.
