Taliban Claims Organized Aid to 4.5 Million Forced Afghan Returnees

The Taliban’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock has announced that approximately 4.5 million Afghan citizens have been forcibly returned from neighboring countries to Afghanistan, and aid efforts for them are underway in an organized manner.

Ataullah Omari, acting head of the ministry, stated while distributing aid to returnees in Nangarhar province that the forced expulsion of Afghans began about a year ago, despite many of these families having lived in host countries for nearly four decades. According to him, the number of returnees is nearly equivalent to the population of a small country, and the Taliban administration claims that no major problems have been reported.

Omari also criticized the treatment by neighboring countries, saying that the return of migrants should have been voluntary and carried out with respect for human dignity. He emphasized that individuals who have been sheltered in a country for decades deserved a respectful farewell, not expulsion accompanied by pressure and hardship—something he believes was not respected in the case of Afghan migrants.

Some recent returnees from Pakistan also spoke about the difficulties experienced during migration and expulsion. Mohammad Naqib, one such individual, expressed appreciation for the aid provided but called for the establishment of permanent employment opportunities. Wasel Khan, another returnee, said he had to sell his household belongings at a low price and now needs ongoing support to rebuild his life.

Meanwhile, the Taliban administration announced the implementation of a program to distribute cash and food aid to 70,000 returning families across the country. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, aid has so far reached over 50,000 families in 34 provinces; however, fundamental challenges for returnees, including lack of work and stable shelter, remain serious.