Afghan migrants returning from Pakistan say they are facing severe economic hardship and a lack of basic necessities after being deported, with many struggling to find shelter and rebuild their lives.
Dozens to hundreds of migrants are being returned each day, according to local accounts, in a process that many say has left them unprepared for conditions inside Afghanistan.
For many, the return has not marked a fresh start but a continuation of hardship.
“We came back from Pakistan, but now we can’t even afford rent,” said Abdullah, a returnee who said he was heading to Kunduz without a place to live. “We have no proper shelter to protect our families.”
Others described difficulties during the deportation process itself, including what they called mistreatment by Pakistani authorities.
“We went there as human beings, and we should be treated with humanity,” said Saifullah, another returnee.
Inside Afghanistan, returnees say they are confronting multiple challenges, including limited access to healthcare, lack of job opportunities and restrictions affecting women’s education and employment.
Many families also say their children’s schooling has been disrupted.
“Our children were studying in different grades,” said Khan Mohammad, another returnee. “Now that we are moving, their education will be seriously affected.”
The continuation of returns comes as Pakistan continues its deportation campaign despite criticism from humanitarian groups and rights advocates.
Some analysts say the expulsions are tied to deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Taliban, though returnees themselves say ordinary people should not bear the consequences of political tensions.
With few resources and limited support, many returnees say they are struggling to meet basic needs, raising concerns about worsening humanitarian conditions in communities already under strain.
