Mahmoud Saikal Warns Taliban Policies Intensify Afghanistan’s Displacement Crisis
Mahmoud Saikal, former Afghan representative to the United Nations, has warned that the Taliban’s repressive policies remain the main driver of displacement within Afghanistan, a problem that is exacerbated by the forced return of migrants.
According to Saikal, reports indicate that some countries are providing cash and other concessions to the Taliban administration in exchange for accepting the repatriation of Afghan migrants from Kabul airport. He emphasizes that these incentives are being used not to improve conditions for the people but to expand pressure and restrictions.
Saikal adds that such an approach creates a vicious cycle: pressure and repression cause people to flee, while their forced return sets the stage for new pressures. He believes this situation keeps millions of Afghans in a state of perpetual insecurity and instability.
The former diplomat stresses that breaking this cycle is only possible through the establishment of a legitimate, lawful, and accountable government—something the Taliban administration has so far failed to achieve.
Meanwhile, according to reports from UN agencies related to migrants, approximately two million Afghans have returned to the country from Pakistan alone since September 2023. It is also reported that during the first week of February, nearly two thousand people entered Afghanistan daily, either voluntarily or forcibly, many of whom were compelled to return due to fears of police encounters and the risk of detention in host countries.
