The United States has issued a stark warning that former Afghan security forces are increasingly vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation, and forced recruitment in foreign wars, particularly the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a report released Tuesday, September 30, the U.S. State Department revealed that thousands of ex-soldiers remain in hiding inside Afghanistan or have fled to neighboring countries, especially Iran, following the Taliban’s return to power. These displaced veterans, facing severe financial hardship, lack of employment opportunities, and constant threats, have become prime targets for organized trafficking networks and foreign militias seeking to exploit their military training.
“Former members of Afghanistan’s armed forces are living under conditions of fear and desperation, making them highly susceptible to coercion and abuse,” the report noted, warning that recruitment into conflicts abroad is escalating.
The State Department underscored that the Taliban continue to detain, kill, or forcibly disappear ex-military personnel, further destabilizing communities and leaving survivors with few options. Human rights groups have also raised alarm, stressing that the trafficking and exploitation of Afghan veterans risks fueling regional instability and aggravating Afghanistan’s already dire humanitarian crisis.
The United States urged international partners to intensify monitoring, create protective mechanisms, and provide humanitarian support to safeguard former Afghan security personnel. Washington also called on neighboring states to prevent coercive recruitment and ensure that ex-soldiers seeking refuge are not drawn into wars outside Afghanistan.
Once numbering over 300,000 men trained and equipped by NATO and the U.S., Afghanistan’s security forces collapsed virtually overnight with the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. The fate of these trained personnel, many now stateless and under threat, continues to raise pressing concerns for international security.
