Andisha, Herat Province, Afghanistan – July 5, 2025 – Twelve-year-old Mahtab (C) sits with her siblings and parents in a makeshift yard, their temporary resting place after a harrowing journey from the Iranian border. They are among the latest wave of Afghan refugees to arrive, having been deported and forced to return to a homeland grappling with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Their overnight stay in Andisha, Guzara district, Herat province, underscores the stark reality faced by hundreds of thousands of Afghans. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Taliban Criticizes Mass Expulsions of Afghan Refugees
On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the Taliban government sharply criticized neighboring countries for the mass expulsion of Afghans. Iran and Pakistan, citing concerns over illegal residency, have initiated widespread deportations, asserting that those without valid documentation must leave or face arrest. While both nations deny specifically targeting Afghans, individuals from Afghanistan constitute a significant portion of the foreign population in both countries.
Abdul Rahman Rashid, the Taliban government’s deputy minister for refugees and repatriation, publicly rebuked the host nations for their actions. He decried the expulsions as a “serious violation of international norms, humanitarian principles, and Islamic values.” Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Rashid emphasized the unprecedented scale of the crisis: “The scale and manner in which Afghan refugees have been forced to return to their homeland is something Afghanistan has never before experienced in its history.”
Unprecedented Numbers: A Growing Humanitarian Challenge
The numbers reveal the severity of the situation. In the past three months alone, nearly 1.8 million Afghans were forcibly returned from Iran. An additional 184,459 individuals were sent back from Pakistan, and over 5,000 more have been deported from Türkiye since the beginning of the year. Compounding this, nearly 10,000 Afghan prisoners have been repatriated, primarily from Pakistan. These figures represent a massive influx of people into a country already struggling with economic hardship and instability.
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation estimates that approximately 6 million Afghan refugees still reside overseas, indicating the potential for further large-scale returns. The current pace of deportations is placing immense pressure on Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure and limited resources, making it exceedingly difficult to provide essential services like shelter, food, and healthcare to the returnees. Many arrive with little to no possessions, facing an uncertain future in a land they may have left years ago.
Natural Disasters: Another Burden on Displaced Afghans and Refugees
Adding to the complexity, natural disasters have significantly swelled Afghanistan’s internally displaced population. Mahmood ul-Haq Ahadi, the Ministry’s director for policy and planning, reported that some 13,500 families have been newly displaced due to severe droughts, floods, and storms. “When combined with prior displacements, the total number of internally displaced families in Afghanistan has now reached nearly 2.5 million,” Mr. Ahadi stated, highlighting the compounded burden on the nation. This dual challenge of returning refugees and internal displacement stretches humanitarian aid efforts to their breaking point.
Seeking Sustainable Solutions for Returning Afghan Refugees
In response to the escalating crisis, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced plans to send delegations to engage with host countries. These diplomatic efforts will focus on providing legal support for Afghan refugees and addressing the numerous challenges faced by Afghan asylum seekers abroad. “Our goal is to find sustainable solutions through dialogue and cooperation,” Mr. Ahadi affirmed, underscoring the government’s commitment to mitigating the impact of the expulsions.
However, humanitarian agencies have voiced grave concerns, warning that the sheer scale and speed of returning Afghans are overwhelming existing support systems. They emphasize that without substantial international aid and a coordinated response, Afghanistan faces an deepening humanitarian catastrophe. The reintegration of such a vast population requires not only immediate relief but also long-term strategies for housing, employment, and social services, which are currently severely lacking.
The global community’s attention and support are crucial to help Afghanistan manage this escalating crisis and provide dignified conditions for its returning citizens.
Published – July 30, 2025 10:56 pm IST