In a dramatic reversal of migration trends, the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees has announced that more than 144,000 Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan, Iran, and Türkiye since the start of April—many under mounting pressure from host countries.
Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry, revealed on state television that among the returnees were over 3,000 former prisoners released from jails across Pakistan. These individuals crossed back into Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border points.
The Ministry has launched logistical support operations to assist the flood of returnees, providing transport and basic necessities to help them reach their home provinces. In response to the large-scale influx, over 60 residential settlements have been allocated nationwide to accommodate the returnees.
This mass repatriation follows intensified crackdowns on undocumented migrants in Pakistan and other neighbouring nations, where Afghan asylum seekers—many of whom fled Taliban rule—are facing worsening conditions and stricter enforcement.
Officials warn that the surge could strain Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure, while rights groups raise concerns over the future of returnees—many of whom fled persecution and instability in the first place.
