841 Afghan Migrant Families Return in One Day Amid Economic Struggles
Media outlets controlled by the Taliban administration have reported that 841 Afghan migrant families returned to the country from neighboring countries in the past day. These individuals entered Afghanistan through various border crossings.
According to a report by Bakhtar News Agency, 653 families entered through the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar province, 94 families through the Pol-e Abresham (Silk Bridge) in Nimroz, 78 families via Spin Boldak in Kandahar, 14 families through Islam Qala in Herat, and two families through the Bahramcha crossing in Helmand province.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has stated that only 11 percent of returnees have jobs, raising concerns about their livelihoods and access to employment opportunities. Many of these families are returning amid Afghanistan’s economic crisis and widespread unemployment, and the Taliban administration has yet to present a clear and comprehensive plan for their reintegration into society.
Two days ago, approximately 700 migrant families also returned to the country, indicating an ongoing trend of returns from Iran and Pakistan.
The United Nations reports that around 2.8 million Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan in 2025. Additionally, Arafat Jamal, the International Organization for Migration’s representative in Afghanistan, announced on February 13, 2025, that since October 2023, 5.4 million individuals have returned to the country, most of them from Iran and Pakistan.
Afghanistan, located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, has border crossings such as Torkham, Spin Boldak, Islam Qala, and Pol-e Abresham that serve as key migration routes. However, the rising number of returnees amid insufficient infrastructure has placed additional pressure on local residents and returning families.
