Kabul: More than 6,000 Afghan refugees were forcibly deported from Pakistan and Iran to Afghanistan in a single day, a Taliban official said, highlighting growing pressure on displaced Afghans ahead of winter. According to Taliban Deputy Spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat, a total of 1,188 families, comprising 6,553 people, returned to the country on Saturday under the High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues.
The returnees entered Afghanistan through multiple border crossings, including Torkham in Nangarhar, Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Bahramcha in Helmand and Islam Qala in Herat. Fitrat said 1,260 families, totalling 8,102 people, were transported to their home areas, while 780 families received humanitarian assistance, and telecom operators distributed 1,294 SIM cards to deported refugees.
Nearly 1,332 Afghan refugees were also forcibly repatriated from Pakistan and Iran on Friday, adding to the surge in returns. Many recent returnees have voiced alarm over the oncoming winter, citing an acute lack of shelter, inadequate aid and difficulties in obtaining electronic ID cards (tazkira), which are needed to access services and support.
Several Afghans who came back from Pakistan said they are effectively homeless, with some families forced to live on streets and roadsides. Returnees such as Abdul Baqi, Abdul Bari, Abdul Malik and Abdul Qahar have appealed to the Taliban authorities to provide basic assistance, including tents, shelter and a streamlined process for issuing ID cards, warning that current support falls far short of their most basic needs.
(Inputs from IANS)