The UN refugee agency’s representative in Afghanistan has called on the international community to maintain their support for Afghanistan, warning that the return of more than 6.5 million Afghans over the past three years has placed significant pressure on the country.

Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan, made the remarks during the eighth International Conference on Action with Women and Peace in Seoul, South Korea, where he highlighted the challenges facing returnees amid poverty, drought and climate-related disasters.

He said the returning population accounts for around 15 percent of Afghanistan’s total population, describing the influx as one of the world’s largest movements of people. He added that Afghanistan was struggling to absorb the large-scale returns due to its existing economic and humanitarian challenges.

Jamal also highlighted difficulties facing Afghan women, saying that the absence of war does not necessarily mean all citizens enjoy safety.

In a separate interview with The Korea Times during his visit to Seoul, Jamal said supporting refugees and vulnerable countries was not simply an act of charity but an investment in a safer and more stable international environment.

He stressed that Afghanistan’s strategic location, bordering seven countries including China, Pakistan and Iran, makes its stability a matter of wider international concern. Although the country is relatively calm at present, he cautioned that this situation should not be taken for granted without continued international support.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has halted its investigation into alleged crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan, according to court documents released on Friday.

The decision was issued on Thursday but made public a day later. The court cited “significant limitations” on the prosecutor’s ability to carry out investigations and obtain evidence.

The ruling also brings an end to the investigation into alleged crimes committed by the Islamic State group’s affiliate in Khorasan Province (ISKP).

The prosecutor’s office has appealed the decision, according to statements provided to the Associated Press and Reuters.

The decision comes amid strained relations between Washington and the Hague-based court. The United States previously imposed sanctions on 13 current and former ICC staff members over investigations into alleged crimes by US personnel and arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier said that President Donald Trump would never allow the ICC to prosecute Americans. In an October statement, Rubio also warned that Washington would continue efforts to dismantle the court until Americans were no longer at risk of prosecution.

It remains unclear whether the latest ruling will affect the US position towards the ICC. The United States is not a member of the court and does not recognise its jurisdiction.

Under the court’s founding statute, however, the ICC can prosecute individuals accused of serious international crimes committed on the territory of its member states.

The investigation into Afghanistan began in 2020.

In 2021, the then ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced that his office would deprioritise investigations into US forces, citing difficulties in obtaining evidence.

Khan was removed from his position earlier this year following allegations of sexual misconduct.