The Taliban-run Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has reported that approximately 10 million Afghan citizens are either refugees abroad or internally displaced within the country.
Afghanistan ranks among the top three countries with the highest number of refugees globally, with the Taliban stating that over seven million Afghans have sought refuge in foreign nations, primarily in Iran and Pakistan. Both of these countries have seen an escalation in the forced deportation of Afghan refugees over the past year.
The Taliban claims that in the last year alone, 1.8 million Afghan refugees have returned to the country, with the provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman, Kandahar, and Herat receiving the highest number of returnees.
However, many returnees face significant challenges, including educational restrictions imposed by the Taliban, as well as widespread poverty and homelessness. Some Afghans are calling on the international community to pressure the Taliban to lift restrictions, particularly those affecting education.
Mitra, a student, voiced her concerns: “Pressure needs to be put on the Taliban regime because the lives of Afghan girls are being destroyed, and their hopes are fading.”
While the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation does not provide comprehensive data on the number of Afghan prisoners abroad, it estimates that over 4,500 Afghans are incarcerated in Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates for various offenses. The number of Afghan prisoners in neighboring countries, especially Iran, is believed to be significantly higher.
The ministry has reported that nearly 10,000 Afghan citizens have been released from prisons in Iran and Pakistan over the past year and have returned to Afghanistan.
