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Over 5 million Afghan refugees return home amid regional deportation pressures
Humanitarian agencies warn that the current surge in returns could push Afghanistan into another humanitarian crisis if immediate assistance is not provided.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has announced that more than five million Afghan migrants have returned home since August 2021 when the Islamic Emirate regained power.
The return includes both voluntary and forced repatriations, primarily from neighboring countries such as Iran and Pakistan.
According to the ministry’s spokesman, over 268,000 individuals have returned from Iran and Pakistan in the past two months alone.
The ministry’s figures show that in under four years, over 291,000 families — equating to approximately 2.239 million individuals — have returned, in addition to 2.358 million individuals who returned without their families.
However, international aid organizations have expressed grave concerns about the growing humanitarian needs of the returnees.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that half a million Afghans have been forcibly returned to the country over the last two months.
The UN has urged host countries to ensure that the return process is safe, voluntary, and orderly.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the current surge in returns could push Afghanistan into another humanitarian crisis if immediate assistance is not provided.
The majority of returnees face uncertain futures, lacking access to shelter, livelihoods, and basic services.
The situation is further complicated by the forced deportations being carried out by Pakistan, and Iran’s recent ultimatum for undocumented Afghans to leave the country by mid-July (15th of Saratan on the Afghan solar calendar).
The Iranian Ministry of Interior has stated that the number of undocumented Afghan migrants in Iran now exceeds four million, following the cancellation of temporary permits.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has intensified its crackdown on illegal foreign residents, especially Afghan nationals.
According to Dawn News, the decision was made during the third session of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Harden the State Committee, chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday.
The Pakistani government has previously warned that Afghan refugees awaiting relocation to Western countries would be deported if not moved by April 30.
As deportations continue to accelerate across the region, the Afghan government and international agencies face mounting pressure to respond to the growing needs of returnees and to prevent further instability within Afghanistan.
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Afghanistan now has unified central government: IEA defense minister
Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Minister of Defense of the Islamic Emirate, says that Afghanistan currently has a unified central government, and that no groups engaging in destructive activities are present in the country. He added that they will not allow anyone to undermine the country’s security.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, Mujahid made these remarks at a graduation ceremony for commandos of the Special Forces Division. The ceremony was attended by Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Minister of Interior; several cabinet ministers; foreign ambassadors and military attachés; special representatives; and a number of officials and military personnel.
Addressing the commandos, Yaqoob Mujahid said: “In the service you perform, make the pleasure of Almighty Allah your sole intention, because Almighty Allah will reward you for such an intention in this world and the hereafter. There is now a unified central government in the country, and no groups engaging in destructive activities are present. We will also not allow anyone to undermine security.”
He also added: “I assure our people that these forces will defend the lives, property, and territory of their beloved country with full courage and wisdom. I tell all foreign countries that Afghanistan is now secure, and there is no enemy in this country, whether from within or outside, that poses a threat to others.”
At the ceremony, Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani also said: “For half a century, Afghanistan did not have an independent army. However, now, it has an organized army and other security forces. You are not a ceremonial army, nor do you operate to serve the interests of others; rather, you are an organized and independent army. Although we may be materially weak, we are stronger than others in terms of morale and spirituality. We must maintain high morale, avoid acting emotionally in military affairs, and respond to the enemy at the appropriate time. We are not a threat to anyone; rather, we are defenders of our own land.”
It is worth noting that 1,000 young commandos of the Special Forces Division of the Ministry of Defense graduated from the eighth training course after completing six months of professional, ideological, and commando training.
During the ceremony, the graduating commandos, in cooperation with the Air Force, demonstrated coordinated practical and military exercises using various types of unmanned aircraft.
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Baradar approves action plan for establishing special economic zones
The action plan for establishing special economic zones across the country was approved on Wednesday by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.
According to a decree issued by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate, these special economic zones will be established in the provinces of Kabul, Balkh, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Herat, Paktia, and Kunduz.
Under the plan, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in cooperation with other relevant ministries and government agencies, will identify the land required for these zones, determine the necessary sectoral activities and services, and create the conditions needed to attract investment.
The establishment of these special economic zones is aimed at attracting new investments, achieving a relative balance between exports and imports, and expanding production activities in a suitable environment, paving the way for a new phase of economic development in the country.
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Russian deputy prime minister to visit Kabul with high-level economic delegation
The visit aims to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia, explore investment opportunities and discuss potential joint economic projects.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk is scheduled to visit Kabul on Thursday, leading a high-level economic delegation, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
According to a statement by the ministry, the visit aims to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia, explore investment opportunities and discuss potential joint economic projects.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for officials from both countries to discuss ways of expanding bilateral economic cooperation and identifying new areas for trade and investment.
The ministry did not provide further details about the delegation’s programme or the specific projects expected to be discussed during the visit.
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