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KABUL – Thousands of Afghan families are returning from Pakistan and Iran as tensions escalate along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The influx follows Taliban armed reprisals against alleged Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory on 11 October, prompting waves of forced returns.
At Spin Boldak in Kandahar province, convoys of refugees arrive under chaotic conditions, often without money, shelter, or food. Many have lived abroad for decades and now face a country they barely know, struggling amid a worsening economic crisis. Women are particularly vulnerable due to Taliban-imposed restrictions on travel, education, and employment.
Rabia, a returnee who spent 40 years in Pakistan, told RFI, “We are very worried. My husband is still over there. We don’t know anything about this country. We cannot read or write. We need help – we haven’t eaten for two days.” Similarly, 45-year-old Gul Ghoti, returning with ten children, said, “In Pakistan, my eldest daughter was in Year 11. Here, I have no idea what we’re going to do.”
At Spin Boldak alone, local officials report 20,000 arrivals in just days. Many, like 75-year-old Rahmatullah, describe harrowing journeys after decades in exile. Humanitarian agencies warn that aid is insufficient: “Most arrivals are malnourished,” said Dr. Mohamed Sabir of the Red Crescent.
Taliban officials at the border claim they are providing cash and temporary assistance, but with nearly 1.8 million Afghans returning from Pakistan and Iran since January, the scale of the crisis is immense. As winter approaches, international observers warn of a deepening humanitarian emergency, especially for women and children.
