449 Migrant Families Return to Afghanistan Amid Growing Concerns Over Livelihoods
According to media outlets under Taliban administration, 449 migrant families entered Afghanistan via various land routes on Saturday, January 23. This figure was reported by Bakhtar News Agency, which operates under Taliban control.
The report states that 357 families returned through the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar, 49 families via Spin Boldak in Kandahar, 21 families through Islam Qala in Herat, 11 families via Pul-e-Abresham in Nimroz, and 11 families through the Bahramcha route in Helmand.
At the same time, the United Nations has warned that the livelihoods of returnees are concerning, noting that only 11 percent of them have employment after returning. The UN had previously emphasized the urgent need for basic services and job opportunities for these families.
Two days earlier, reports indicated that about 400 migrant families had returned to Afghanistan. The UN states that in total, approximately 2.8 million Afghan migrants returned from Iran and Pakistan in 2025; a trend that, in the absence of clear planning and effective support from the Taliban administration, has resulted in significant social and economic challenges for the returnees.
