Forced Deportations of Afghan Migrants from Pakistan Rise Ahead of Ramadan
As the holy month of Ramadan begins, the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan has intensified. According to local officials in Nangarhar, nearly 800 families are crossing into Afghanistan daily through the Torkham border. This surge in returns is occurring amidst reports from many families that they were suddenly and under pressure forced to leave their homes.
Some of the returnees report that Pakistani police have raided houses, cut off electricity, blocked SIM cards, and even destroyed shops to coerce them into leaving. They claim these actions were carried out without regard for the sanctity of Ramadan, forcing families to abandon their assets and years of investment.
The Nangarhar Department of Information and Culture has announced that over ten committees have been established by the Taliban administration at Torkham to address the situation of the returnees and provide basic services. Qureshi Badloon, the information officer of the department, stated that the level of services has increased compared to the past and that the aid process is ongoing.
Meanwhile, Attaullah Omari, acting head of the Taliban’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, said at a wheat and cash aid distribution ceremony in Nangarhar that since the Taliban returned to power, four and a half million Afghan migrants have returned from Iran and Pakistan and have been receiving regular assistance.
Despite these statements, the rising number of forced returns ahead of Ramadan has raised concerns about the country’s capacity to absorb them, provide shelter, create job opportunities, and ensure access to basic services. Many believe that effective, transparent, and long-term management of the returnees’ situation is a serious responsibility of the relevant authorities and requires clear and responsive planning.
