Over 76,000 Afghan Families Forcibly Returned via Torkham Since 2023

Since the beginning of 2023, more than 76,000 Afghan families have been forcibly returned to the country via the Torkham crossing.

Baz Mohammad Abdulrahman, head of the Department of Refugees and Repatriation in Nangarhar, stated that out of this number, 47,231 families have settled in Nangarhar province.

He added: “Through the Torkham crossing, a total of 67,473 families—equivalent to 355,900 individuals—have returned to the country. Of these, 70% have settled in Nangarhar, while the remaining have been resettled in other provinces.”

Meanwhile, the deported families are calling on the caretaker government and aid agencies to provide permanent housing and employment opportunities.

Jamal Khan, one of the deportees from Pakistan, said: “The Pakistani government put us under a lot of pressure, and in the end, we were forced to migrate back to Afghanistan. May God make this place a means of salvation for us.”

Liaqatullah Sapi, another deportee, stated: “I’m very happy to now be living in my own country. I’m finally free from hearing things like: ‘Refugee, stand up! Refugee, sit down! Show your refugee card!’ Now, my request to the Islamic Emirate and relevant organizations is to provide not just shelter, but also work and livelihood opportunities.”

According to the Nangarhar Department of Refugees and Repatriation, the deported Afghans living in this province need support in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, vocational training, and small businesses. Efforts are underway, in cooperation with aid agencies, to assist these families.