Mass Return: Nearly 17,000 Afghan Refugees Repatriated in a Single Week

On January 25, 2026, official data revealed that 2,981 Afghan families, totaling 16,928 individuals, crossed back into Afghanistan via the Nimroz, Islam Qala, and Torkham border points. While the Taliban authorities claim to provide immediate assistance including food, healthcare, and free transportation to their home districts, the sheer volume of returnees is straining the country’s fragile social services. Many returnees report being forcibly deported or facing severe harassment and property seizures in neighboring countries.

The mass repatriation coincides with the peak of winter, leaving many returnees—especially children and the elderly—exposed to freezing conditions without permanent shelter. According to humanitarian agencies, only a small percentage of those returning are able to find stable employment, as the national unemployment rate remains near 75%. This influx of people is exacerbating food insecurity in provinces already reeling from drought and a failing economy.

Pressure on the Taliban to manage this crisis is growing as the UN warns that Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian disasters. Negotiations regarding the opening of the Kharlachi crossing in Paktia for more organized returns are ongoing, but political tensions with Pakistan continue to complicate the process. Aid organizations are calling for more international support to reintegrate these millions of returnees into a society already on the brink of collapse.