Taliban Reports 704 Families Forcibly Returned to Afghanistan Yesterday

KABUL — The Taliban announced that 704 families, comprising 3,953 individuals, were forcibly returned to Afghanistan yesterday through various border crossings.

Hamidullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban, stated in a press release on Friday that 630 families totaling 3,587 people crossed back via the Torkham border alone. According to the statement, an additional 41 families returned through the Spin Boldak border, 19 families via the Nimroz province border, 11 families from Islam Qala and three families from the Bahram Chah border in Helmand province.

Many of these families had previously resided in neighboring countries. Their forced returns have raised concerns regarding security, shelter and access to basic services.

The United Nations has previously warned that ongoing forced returns could worsen the humanitarian situation, increasing pressure on land, housing and limited resources in host areas.