Nearly 18,000 Afghan refugees return home in one week

Amid ongoing reports of mass returns, over 17,600 Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings in the past week.

International aid organizations report that many of these individuals held residency cards in Pakistan.

According to these agencies, more than 15,000 returnees, 46% of whom are women, received essential humanitarian assistance upon their arrival in Afghanistan.

Organizations stationed at these border points have warned that the number of returnees remains extremely high and stressed the need for international support.

According to a joint report by humanitarian agencies operating at the borders, most of the returning families are heading to the provinces of Kunduz, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Kabul, and Helmand.

Meanwhile, some of the returnees are urging the Islamic Emirate to provide them with shelter and employment.

In response, the Islamic Emirate has assured them that it has plans to manage the returnees and will provide them with housing and job opportunities.

Pakistan began the second phase of its forced deportation of Afghan refugees on April 1, 2025, a move that has drawn strong international criticism and backlash.

Humanitarian organizations also warn that, in contrast to the high number of returnees, their funding is inadequate and continues to decline.