The Ministry of Refugees and Returnees reported that 108 Afghan families returned to Afghanistan after being expelled from Iran and Pakistan.
According to the Bakhtar News Agency, on Friday, January 10, officials from the Ministry of Refugees and Returnees stated that these 108 families returned to Afghanistan on Thursday, January 9, after being expelled from neighboring countries.
Out of these families, 16 returned via the Torkham border, 19 via Spin Boldak, 31 via the Silk Bridge, and 42 via Islam Qala.
Officials added that these returning families received assistance from the local administration and were referred to aid organizations for further support.
Meanwhile, a report from the Consortium of Aid Organizations at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has stated that, since September 15, 2024, there has been a significant increase in the return of migrants to Afghanistan via the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings.
It is worth noting that Afghan migrants, even those with legal documents, have recently been detained by Pakistani police and deported back to Afghanistan.
Recently, Amnesty International called on the Pakistani government to immediately release all Afghan refugees detained in Islamabad. In a statement, Amnesty also urged Pakistan to immediately revoke its policy requiring Afghan migrants to obtain a “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) in Islamabad.
The increasing number of returning Afghan families highlights the ongoing challenges faced by refugees in neighboring countries and the need for coordinated international support to ensure their protection and assistance.
108 Afghan families deported from Iran and Pakistan
A representative of the organization told TOLOnews that the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees by Pakistan violates international laws.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan has called for the suspension of Afghan refugee deportations from the country.
Qaiser Khan, Deputy Spokesperson for UNHCR in Pakistan, said: “UNHCR is ready to assist the government of Pakistan both financially and technically. We urge the government not to deport Afghans who have been refugees for many years.”
While the deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has intensified over the past week, statistics from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate that over the past five days, more than 26,000 people have entered Afghanistan through shared border crossings between the two countries.
However, over 25,000 people have returned to Pakistan via crossings such as Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Dand-e-Patan, Angoor Adda, and Spin Boldak.
Ehsanullah Ahmadzai, a migrant rights activist, stated: “The international community, especially the United Nations and its affiliated bodies, particularly UNHCR and IOM, must collaborate with the current Afghan government on refugee matters.”
Meanwhile, some Afghan refugees in Pakistan have once again reported mistreatment and forced deportation by Pakistani police.
Qasim, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, said: “All refugees here face problems, including those who are unaccompanied, those with visas, those applying for visa extensions, and even those with illnesses.”
The recent escalation in the deportation of Afghan refugees over the past week has drawn widespread criticism from international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Amnesty International.
UNHCR Urges Pakistan to Halt Forced Deportations of Afghan Refugees
The Ministry of Economy stressed that humanitarian aid should not be used as a political pressure tool against Afghanistan.
Tim Burchett, Vice Chair of US Congress’ Foreign Affairs Committee, has introduced a bill to ensure that US taxpayers’ money does not fall into the hands of the Islamic Emirate.
The Vice Chair of US Congress’ Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that the bill would require the US State Department to formulate a policy opposing any foreign aid to the Islamic Emirate.
After former US President Donald Trump criticized Joe Biden’s administration for sending billions in aid to Afghanistan, the White House responded, emphasizing that Washington’s humanitarian aid is sent not to the “Taliban” but to the Afghan people.
What does the bill include?
1) Forces the State Dept to develop and implement a policy to oppose any foreign aid from going to the “Taliban.”
2) Requires a report on any cash assistance programs in Afghanistan and how the US keeps the “Taliban” from gaining access.
3) Requires a report on the Afghan Fund and the Afghanistan central bank.
“They aim to implement economic policies through pressure. I don’t believe the Americans will disengage Afghanistan—a highly strategic and prominent point in South Asia—from such matters or their policies,” said Sayed Masood, an economic analyst.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy stressed that humanitarian aid should not be used as a political pressure tool against Afghanistan.
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, said: “The suspension of humanitarian and economic aid by some individuals and countries is being used as a strategy of pressure. This act contradicts international law. We want the international community’s aid to the Afghan people to continue strongly.”
Some experts see US and global humanitarian aid as a critical necessity for reducing Afghanistan’s current humanitarian crises.
“The US and its regional allies provide around $1.2 billion annually in direct and indirect humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. This assistance, through cooperation with aid organizations in Afghanistan, saves the lives of many Afghan citizens in areas like health, economy, finance, and addressing physical challenges,” said Selab Samandari, an economic analyst.
Calls to cut US aid to Afghanistan come as various UN agencies, including OCHA, warn of a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan this year. They have stated that 32% of the population will require urgent humanitarian assistance in 2025.
US Congress Introduces Bill to Block Aid to Islamic Emirate
Afghanistan’s economy possesses immense untapped potential, particularly in its natural resources and commercial opportunities, but much of this potential remains unrealized due to limited direct trade, according to Dr. Nagesh Kumar, former Director of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
Speaking at the release of the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2025 report at the United Nations office in New Delhi on Thursday, Dr. Kumar told Khaama Press that political differences must be set aside for regional cooperation to flourish, ultimately benefiting the Afghan people. He also stressed the need for greater investment in Afghanistan’s critical mineral resources for economic growth.
The WESP 2025 report, published by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), in collaboration with UNCTAD and the five UN regional commissions, offers a broad economic outlook for the global economy, with particular focus on developing regions.
Dr. Kumar pointed out that South Asia’s economic outlook remains strong, with regional GDP expected to grow by 5.7% in 2025, slightly down from 5.9% in 2024. The growth is driven by strong performances in India, as well as economic recoveries in Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The report also highlights a global rise in women-owned enterprises, an encouraging trend for economic development.
Dr. Nagesh also stressed the need for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to enhance their lending capacities to support developing nations in the face of growing economic challenges.
He cautioned that electoral rhetoric often does not reflect the true state of a country’s economy, urging policymakers to focus on realistic economic strategies rather than political promises. He stated further that IMF policies will determine economies like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh.
The report further provided projections for major economies: India’s economy is expected to grow by 6.6% in 2025, following an estimated 6.9% growth in 2024, fueled by strong private consumption and investment. In contrast, China’s economy is projected to expand by 4.8% in 2025, slightly lower than the 4.9% growth forecasted for 2024.
Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, concluded that governments must adopt forward-looking policies and comprehensive regulatory frameworks to ensure sustainable resource extraction, equitable benefit-sharing, and investments in critical sectors like mineral resources to maximize developmental gains.
Despite Afghanistan’s vast natural resources and economic potential, the country faces a dire humanitarian crisis, with ongoing political instability and limited international support hindering development.
Afghanistan’s Untapped Economic Potential Hindered By Limited Trade and Investment, Says UN Expert
German media reports have highlighted the continued deportation of Afghan migrants from the country, with more than 1,300 Afghan asylum seekers being expelled in 2024 alone.
The Deutsche Welle (DW) news network reported on Wednesday, January 8, citing the German Ministry of the Interior, that a total of 1,361 Afghan refugees were deported from Germany in 2024 to Afghanistan or other countries.
The report further revealed that some Afghan migrants were sent back to Afghanistan, while others were transferred to countries responsible for handling their asylum cases under the “Dublin Regulation.”
The Dublin Regulation pertains to the management of asylum applications within European Union member states. It stipulates that asylum claims must be processed by the country deemed responsible according to the regulation’s rules.
Additionally, German media has reported a noticeable increase in the deportation of asylum seekers in 2024 compared to previous years. Findings from Germany’s Bild newspaper indicate that deportations have risen by approximately 20% compared to 2023.
The German federal government began focusing on Afghan deportations after several Afghan migrants with extremist Islamist ideologies were involved in violent incidents within the country. This has raised concerns over security and migration policies.
As a result, the humanitarian crisis surrounding Afghan refugees continues to deepen, with increasing deportations leaving many vulnerable individuals in a dire situation. The urgent need for international cooperation and solutions to address the plight of these refugees is becoming ever more apparent.
Over 1,300 Afghan refugees deported from Germany in a single year
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that it currently supports 28,000 health workers and nurses in Afghanistan.
In a message posted on X/Twitter on Thursday, January 9th, UNICEF stated that it would continue supporting healthcare workers in Afghanistan throughout year. The aim is to provide high-quality healthcare services to mothers and children.
UNICEF emphasized that its support for health workers is essential to ensuring the delivery of essential services. Previously, the organization had highlighted that it is the only agency capable of providing food to children in Afghanistan, with around 30,000 health workers currently under its support.
International aid organizations have consistently warned about the increasing poverty and food insecurity in Afghanistan. According to the World Health Organization, about 2.9 million children under the age of five are currently suffering from malnutrition in Afghanistan, with 850,000 of them facing severe acute malnutrition.
The World Health Organization also reported that, over the past three years, it has treated 96,740 children with severe acute malnutrition in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies expressed concern over the increasing number of children suffering from malnutrition, with 3.2 million children under five and 840,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women affected by severe malnutrition.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan continues to worsen, particularly for children and mothers. Despite international efforts, the severe food insecurity and lack of resources present a dire situation that requires urgent global attention and aid.
UNICEF to continue supporting Health workers in Afghanistan
In the interview, Gagnon described her mission as serving as a bridge between the international community and the current authorities in Afghanistan.
Georgette Gagnon, the deputy special representative for the UN Secretary General in Afghanistan, in an exclusive interview with TOLOnews expressed concern over the increasing restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan.
In this interview, Gagnon described the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan as troubling and stated that the continuation of such conditions would make progress toward change more difficult. She added that efforts are underway to address this issue, and these efforts must be accelerated.
The deputy special representative, referring to the recent bans on medical education for girls and women’s work in NGOs: “This type of restriction will impact the delivery of health services for women and girls across the country. But not only for the women and girls, for whole communities where health services are needed. And that’s a very serious situation. It could result in declining health for women and girls, for children and people across the country and also affect development efforts.”
“For more than three years, secondary and high schools have been closed to girls. Our only demand from the Islamic Emirate is to reopen all schools and universities for Afghan girls,” said Shilla, a student.
“We hope attention will be paid and, particularly, that the doors of schools and universities will reopen as soon as possible,” said Tafsir Siahposh, a women’s rights activist.
In the interview, Gagnon described her mission as serving as a bridge between the international community and the current authorities in Afghanistan.
This UN deputy representative in Afghanistan clarified that UNAMA does not have the authority to grant recognition or assign Afghanistan’s seat in the United Nations to the interim government.
Gagnon said: “The UN–UNAMA–it does not the authority or the mandate to deal with any country’s recognition. That’s the authority and the mandate of the member states of the UN. There are 193 member states, they form the general assembly and it is that group that can decide through a credentials committee whether any country is recognized or not. So, that’s not something the UN can do.”
Georgette Gagnon pledged that humanitarian assistance from donor communities and UN agencies will continue to Afghanistan throughout this year (2025).
UNAMA Official Concerned By Increasing Restrictions on Women, Girls
The Deputy Minister of Economy, stated: “This aid is not handed over to the Islamic Emirate but is used to improve the economic of the people.”
The criticism by Donald Trump, the US President-elect, regarding sending cash aid to Afghanistan has drawn a reaction from the White House.
John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, responding to Trump’s criticism of Washington’s billions of dollars in aid to Afghanistan, stated that the humanitarian aid is sent to the Afghan people, not the “Taliban.”.
Speaking to Voice of America, Kirby said that the humanitarian aid sent to Afghanistan is delivered to the Afghan people, not the “Taliban,” adding that it mechanically structured in this way.
The US president-elect stated at a press conference in Florida that the Biden administration has paid billions of dollars to the Islamic Emirate, which he believes should not continue—a remark that also drew sharp criticism from the interim government.
Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, rejected Trump’s statements, asserting that the interim government has received no aid from the United States. Fitrat, however, confirmed that US humanitarian aid has been provided through the United Nations.
The Ministry of Economy of the Islamic Emirate also described the potential suspension of aid as harmful, emphasizing that this assistance is spent on the people, not the Islamic Emirate.
Abdul Latif Nazari, the Deputy Minister of Economy, stated: “This aid is not handed over to the Islamic Emirate but is used to improve the economic and livelihood conditions of the Afghan people.”
Political analyst Wahid Faqiri remarked: “In my view, Trump wants to cut off this aid, and his first action might be to stop sending money to Afghanistan because he believes the Taliban benefit from these funds.”
Earlier, some American officials had also criticized what they described as US cash aid to Afghanistan. A member of the US House of Representatives had written a letter to Donald Trump, calling for the immediate suspension of US aid to Afghanistan.
White House Reacts to Trump’s Criticism of US Aid to Afghanistan
It is not yet clear whether the Islamic Emirate will participate in this meeting.
A number of schoolgirls in Afghanistan are urging the Islamic Emirate to fulfill its commitments regarding education.
The schoolgirls have called on participants of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, scheduled to begin on January 11-12, to facilitate access to education for girls in Afghanistan.
“Our request to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is to include the issue of girls’ schools in their discussions and make a serious decision on this matter,” Nabina, a student, told TOLOnews.
“I humbly request the Islamic Emirate listen to these demands and reopen the doors of schools and universities for females as soon as possible,” Arezo, one of the students, called on the Islamic Emirate.
Meanwhile, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will hold a meeting on the 11th and 12th of this month in Pakistan to discuss the role of girls’ education in Islam.
It is not yet clear whether the Islamic Emirate will participate in this meeting.
“Both the Islamic Emirate government and a woman who has had all doors closed to her should be invited to this meeting, so that she can present her demands in accordance with the principles of Islam in Islamabad,” Tafsir Siyahpush, a women’s rights activist, told TOLOnews.
At the same time, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the purpose of this global meeting is to address the challenges and opportunities for advancing girls’ education in Muslim communities around the world.
A statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The event will bring together over 150 international dignitaries, including ministers, ambassadors, scholars and academia from 44 Muslim and friendly countries, representatives from international organizations including UNESCO, UNICEF, and the World Bank.”
“In any meeting that discusses the Afghan people, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should be represented, and they should also invite a representative of the Islamic Emirate,” said Saleem Paigir, a political affairs expert.
The Islamic Emirate has so far not commented on whether it will participate in the OIC meeting.
This meeting comes as more than 1,200 days have passed since schools were closed, and over 750 days since universities were shut to girls in the country.
Afghans who were killed by members of the SAS in Afghanistan were described dismissively as having been “flat packed” according to revealing testimony given by a former member of the elite force’s sister unit to a public inquiry.
The soldier, known only as N1799, said he had been party to a conversation with a member of the SAS in 2011 who had served in Afghanistan, in which he had been “shocked by the age and methods” used to kill Afghans.
N1799 told his superiors at the time that he believed the SAS had a policy in Afghanistan to “kill all males on target whether they posed a threat or not” – but in his evidence to the inquiry he said what he had heard in person was “more graphic”.
Asked to explain what he meant by Oliver Glasgow, the counsel to the inquiry, the soldier said that “words that have been used about killing were like ‘flat packing’, ‘flat packing them’” because the conversation was informal, among colleagues.
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At another point a special forces member – known only as N1201 – told N1799, while on a training course, that “a pillow had been put over the head of someone before they had been killed with a pistol” during operations in Afghanistan.
N1799 was one of seven commanders and soldiers who have recently given evidence to an inquiry into the deaths of up to 80 Afghan civilians during an SAS deployment in Helmand province between 2010 and 2013.
Members of the SAS and Special Boat Service (SBS) are embroiled in a growing number of official investigations relating to the conduct of elite soldiers on undercover missions in Libya and Syria as well as Afghanistan.
On Tuesday, it emerged that four members of the SBS are under investigation by military police after a car chase in Libya approximately two years ago that led to the death of a suspected terrorist. The Daily Mail reported that the elite soldiers had eventually surrounded the vehicle, firing shots and killing its occupant.
Five serving SAS soldiers are also facing possible murder charges over the death of a suspected jihadi in Syria. They have been accused of using excessive force, when the target should have been arrested, and the inquiry is continuing.
N1799’s testimony was initially given in secret to protect national security, but summaries and redacted transcripts have been released on Wednesday in an effort to be transparent about the work of the inquiry.
The presiding judge, Charles Haddon-Cave, also ruled that the identity of N1799 and the others giving evidence must remain undisclosed. N1799 was an officer in the sister unit SBS at the time he heard N1201’s account of how the SAS operated in Afghanistan.
SAS and SBS operations are conducted in secret and while the chief of the units, the director of special forces, is part of the military chain of command, they also report directly to the prime minister.
N1799 also told the inquiry he still feared for his personal safety and wellbeing if his name were to be linked to allegations that the SAS had been murdering Afghan civilians on deployment and told the inquiry that he believed he had broken “a code of silence”. Past and present members of the SAS would regard him as a traitor, he added.
The Ministry of Defence said it did not comment on the activities of special forces or an ongoing public inquiry.
‘Flat packing them’: soldier says SAS described killing Afghans in casual way
The United Nations says aid workers are still in a “race against time” to remove rubble and rebuild after the devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan last month, killing at least 2,200 people and cutting off remote areas.
The 6.0-magnitude quake on Aug. 31 was shallow, destroying or causing extensive damage to low-rise buildings in the mountainous region. It hit late at night, and homes — mostly made of mud, wood, or rocks — collapsed instantly, becoming death traps.
Satellite data shows that about 40,500 truckloads of debris still needs to be cleared from affected areas in several provinces, the United Nations Development Program said Wednesday. Entire communities have been upended and families are sleeping in the open, it added.
The quake’s epicenter was in remote and rugged Kunar province, challenging rescue and relief efforts by the Taliban government and humanitarian groups. Authorities deployed helicopters or airdropped army commandos to evacuate survivors. Aid workers walked for hours on foot to reach isolated communities.
“This is a race against time,” said Devanand Ramiah, from the UNDP’s Crisis Bureau. “Debris removal and reconstruction operations must start safely and swiftly.”
People’s main demands were the reconstruction of houses and water supplies, according to a spokesman for a Taliban government committee tasked with helping survivors, Zia ur Rahman Speenghar.
People were getting assistance in cash, food, tents, beds, and other necessities, Speenghar said Thursday. Three new roads were under construction in the Dewagal Valley, and roads would be built to areas where there previously were none.
“Various countries and organizations have offered assistance in the construction of houses but that takes time. After the second round of assistance, work will begin on the third round, which is considering what kind of houses can be built here,” the spokesman said.
Afghanistan is facing a “perfect storm” of crises, including natural disasters like the recent earthquake, said Roza Otunbayeva, who leads the U.N. mission to the country.
Afghanistan Peace Campaign
