Bilawal Bhutto warned that the Kabul’s repeated violations of the Doha Agreement are threatening regional stability and undermining efforts to combat terrorism.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, has warned that the Taliban’s repeated violations of their commitments under the Doha Agreement are fueling regional instability. He emphasized that adherence to these promises is critical for maintaining peace.
Speaking at a seminar in Islamabad titled “Pakistan: A Barrier Against Terrorism”, Bhutto stated that terrorism is not just a local issue but a global threat. He noted that Pakistan has sacrificed heavily—both in human lives and economically—in its ongoing struggle against terrorism.
Bhutto directly addressed the Taliban leadership, urging them to remain faithful to the pledges made in the Doha Accord. He stressed that such commitment could prevent further destabilization and promote regional trust.
Under the Doha Agreement, the Taliban had promised not to allow extremist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS to use Afghanistan’s territory to threaten other nations, especially the United States. However, doubts over Taliban compliance have persisted.
Despite Taliban assurances that Afghanistan’s soil won’t be used against neighboring countries, Pakistani authorities accuse them of sheltering members of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group blamed for numerous attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban have denied these allegations, maintaining that no foreign militant groups are being hosted.
Bhutto: Kabul Violating Doha Deal, Threatening Regional Stability
Speaking to TASS News Agency, Kabulov added that the interim government of Afghanistan will participate in the meeting as a “full member.”
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, stated that the seventh Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan is scheduled to take place in September and October this year.
Speaking to TASS News Agency, Kabulov added that the interim government of Afghanistan will participate in the meeting as a “full member.”
“The date has not yet been determined, but by tradition, we will definitely hold it [the meeting] in September-October,” Kabulov said, adding that “Afghanistan will participate in this meeting as a full member.”
According to experts, the Moscow Format meetings primarily focus on issues such as regional security, peace and stability, strengthening regional cooperation, garnering support for the Afghan people, and improving Afghanistan’s international political standing.
“The countries participating in the Moscow Format focus on security issues, peace, regional relations, and Afghanistan’s international standing, which are crucial for the country’s future,” said Najib Rahman Shamal, a political analyst.
In recent months, the Islamic Emirate has participated in several significant regional meetings such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Tehran Forum, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Russian Security Meeting. Recently, a delegation from the interim government also attended the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) meeting in Azerbaijan, which some see as evidence of the Islamic Emirate’s growing political presence in multilateral international structures—although the government is not yet formally recognized.
The Islamic Emirate stated it has participated in more than ten regional meetings in just the past seven months.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, said: “We have been invited to the Shanghai Organization meetings and other forums, and for the first time, a high-ranking delegation from the Islamic Emirate participated in the ECO meeting.”
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, stated: “The political, economic, and trade relations of the Islamic Emirate with influential regional countries are expanding. Our delegation’s participation in the Azerbaijan meeting can help strengthen these ties.”
However, the lack of official recognition of the interim government means the actual impact of these meetings on Afghanistan’s internal situation remains unclear. Economic crisis, reduced humanitarian aid, and lack of foreign investment are among the challenges that mere participation in meetings cannot solve.
“In the past four years, many meetings have been held, some with and some without the Islamic Emirate’s participation. But the core problems—sanctions, restrictions, and frozen assets—still persist with no clear solutions offered,” said Edris Mohammadi Zazai, a political analyst.
The sixth Moscow Format meeting took place in October 2024 with representatives from nine countries. Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, was the special guest at that round of talks. The upcoming seventh meeting is expected to pave the way for continued regional engagement on Afghanistan’s future.
Islamic Emirate to Join 7th Moscow Format Meeting as Full Member
He also emphasized that India, due to its significant regional interests, has adopted a similar approach toward the interim Afghan government./
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Envoy for Afghan Peace, has spoken about Washington’s engagement with the interim Afghan government to bring about positive changes.
He stated that the goal of this engagement is to encourage the Islamic Emirate to respect girls’ educational rights and to establish a permanent system for Afghanistan’s future.
Khalilzad stated: “We don’t agree with some of their policies. We engage, also the United States engages with the Taliban. But we need to, as we engage for good reasons, we need to keep encouraging them to evolve on their views on women’s education, on girls, on a plan. What’s their plans for the longer term? Still after four years they are interim government. What is a permanent system for Afghanistan? What it will be?”
He also emphasized that India, due to its significant regional interests, has adopted a similar approach toward the interim Afghan government.
According to Khalilzad: “India is a neighboring country with a lot of interest and Taliban are part of the reality of Afghanistan as well as with the government of that time. So, I think on Afghanistan, US and India are of similar views now. Although I think India initially was skeptical of what we were trying to do.”
Meanwhile, Jannat Faheem Chakari, a political affairs analyst, said the Trump administration’s policies on Afghanistan may be subject to change, but there is no sign of fundamental contradiction between the current US administration and the interim government.
“Trump’s policies may change at any time, but from my perspective, there is no serious contradiction in his relations with Afghanistan’s current ruling power. In my opinion, some of the criticism being raised is aimed at reform, not severing ties; and for that reason, the US might continue working with the current administration,” said Jannat Faheem Chakari.
Khalilzad’s comments on the US’s purposeful engagement with the interim government come at a time when, seven months into Donald Trump’s return to power, the US has yet to make a clear stance on the Islamic Emirate except for a few criticisms over the manner of US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Khalilzad Stresses Purposeful Engagement with Islamic Emirate
Afghan citizen Enayatullah Asghari watched dismayed after Israel and Iran launched strikes on each other last month, as the Gulf nation where he had sought refuge turned more hostile, work on Tehran building sites dried up and he was accused of spying.Asghari, 35, is among tens of thousands of Afghans whom Iran has deported home in the past few weeks, in the fallout of a conflict the United Nations says risks further destabilizing Afghanistan, already battling a humanitarian crisis.“It is hard to even find a place to rent, and if you find one, the price is unaffordable … and there is no work at all,” Asghari said at the end of his family’s long journey back to western Afghanistan.He said he had no idea what to do next in his home country, marooned in international isolation since the Islamist Taliban terror group took over in 2021.The United Nations refugee agency estimates Iran deported home an average of more than 30,000 Afghans each day during the war, up 15-fold from about 2,000 earlier.“We’ve always striven to be good hosts, but national security is a priority, and naturally illegal nationals must return,” Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday.That did not mean expulsion, however, but rather a return to their homeland, the spokesperson added, without mention of a hunt for spies.There was no immediate comment from the Afghanistan government.
Before a ceasefire was struck last week in their 12-day war, Iran and Israel traded strikes, which the US joined with an attack on Iran’s uranium-enrichment facilities.
On national security grounds, Iran had already been cracking down this year on foreign nationals, including Afghans, but stepped up its efforts during the conflict, deported Afghans and humanitarian officials said in interviews.Iranian authorities estimated about 2.6 million Afghans were living in the country without legal documentation in 2022, following the fall of Kabul as US-led foreign forces withdrew.“They saw us as suspected spies and treated us with contempt,” Asghari said. “From ordinary people to the police and the government, they were always saying you Afghans are our first enemies, you destroyed us from inside.”
Concern over pushback
In an interview, Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative for Afghanistan, said he was concerned about the pushback, as anger at the strikes could have spilled over on Afghans in Iran.
“They have undergone a very frightening war, we understand that but we also feel that perhaps the Afghans are being scapegoated and some of the anger is being taken out on them,” he told Reuters in Kabul.He warned of increasing concern of a “pefect storm” brewing for Afghanistan as neighboring Pakistan also pushed back displaced Afghans in a huge repatriation drive begun in 2023.Compounding Afghanistan’s woes, its economy, crippled by sanctions on the banking sector since the Taliban took over, now faces severe aid cuts by Western capitals, he added.“This is a recipe for a great amount of instability in the region for sure,” said Jamal.UNHCR’s Afghanistan operations have received less than a quarter of the funding needed this year.Afghanistan’s aid program has shrunk to just $538 million from $3.2 billion three years ago. More than 1.2 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan this year, often with just the clothes on their backs and any belongings they could carry.Iran says it will keep up the action on illegal immigrants.“We have legal migrants, many of them poets, writers, doctors, skilled workers and don’t want to push everyone out,” the government spokesperson added.“But when it comes to illegals, national policies that have been taken will be implemented.”Ahmad Fawad Rahimi, 26, said he had a valid work visa for Iran but decided to return last month as his family worried about the war.En route he was picked up and placed in a detention camp, where he said inmates received little food and water, had their mobile telephones taken from them during their stay and were then charged high prices for transport across the border.“Before the war, at least we would receive a warning the first time, and on the second arrest we would be deported,” he said.
Surge in Afghans driven from Iran in spy hunt after Israel attacks
The IFRC has called for immediate international aid to assist Afghanistan, as over 800,000 migrants, primarily from Iran, return this year.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has called for increased global support in response to the rising deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran. Since January this year, over 800,000 Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing. In June alone, more than 137,000 people arrived, many of them exhausted and lacking sufficient food, water, or shelter.
The IFRC has expressed urgent concern about the intensifying situation, as these migrants arrive in a country already facing significant challenges, including decades of conflict, economic hardship, and natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. As the temperatures soar, families at the border endure extreme heat, with some days reaching above 40°C. Many migrants only have the few belongings they can carry, and children show visible signs of malnutrition. Mothers appear fatigued and anxious, highlighting the desperate need for assistance.
In addition to the returnees from Iran, more than one million migrants have also returned from Pakistan since late 2023. This mass return of migrants is placing further strain on Afghanistan’s already overwhelmed local systems and humanitarian services, which are struggling to meet the needs of both new arrivals and existing vulnerable populations.
Alexander Matheou, IFRC’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, recently visited the Islam Qala border and emphasized that the crisis has not received the attention it deserves. He stated, “These individuals are not just statistics; they are mothers, fathers, children, and families returning to a country facing significant challenges. It is crucial that we treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve and support them in rebuilding their lives.”
The decision to return for many of these migrants, who have lived for decades in Iran or Pakistan, has been influenced by evolving legal frameworks, worsening economic conditions, and increasing regional tensions. These migrants are now arriving in Afghanistan, a country that continues to face considerable crises, further complicating efforts to provide basic services and support.
The situation at the Afghanistan-Iran border is increasingly dire, with families facing extreme conditions. The IFRC’s call for immediate international assistance highlights the urgent need for a coordinated global response. The overwhelming numbers of returnees underscore the critical role that humanitarian aid plays in easing the suffering of these vulnerable populations.
To mitigate the ongoing crisis, international collaboration is essential. Both the local administration and humanitarian organizations must work together to ensure the safe reintegration of returnees. Increased support and coordinated efforts are necessary to provide adequate care, ensuring the dignity and well-being of those who are most vulnerable in Afghanistan.
IFRC calls for immediate aid to support Afghanistan’s migrant influx from Iran
The increase in returnees has raised concerns among the United Nations and human rights organizations, who have called for a halt to forced deportations.
‘From the beginning of this year to the end of June 2025, more than 714,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran, 70% of whom were forcibly deported.
The increase in returnees has raised concerns among the United Nations and human rights organizations, who have called for a halt to forced deportations.
Sadeq, a 36-year-old man who had lived in Iran for about 30 years, was deported from that country, and his life suddenly changed.
The hopeless looks of Sadeq’s family reflect the hardship of recent days. His story, like many other returnees, is not much different. “Having legal documents” did not prevent his forced return.
Sadeq, deported from Iran, said: “We had residency, had obtained smart cards. They gave me fifteen days and said you must leave Iran. We left Iran. We were deported and came to Afghanistan. Our house money remained there.”
Abdulmalek, deported from Iran, said: “The insult that Afghans face in Iran doesn’t happen in any other country. In Germany or other countries, if you live more than four years or if a child is born there, they become a resident and citizen. But I, who was in Iran for thirty years, have no documents to prove my work, not even a SIM card in my name.”
The International Organization for Migration has reported that from the beginning of this year to June 29, 2025, more than 714,572 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran. Of this number, 99% were undocumented and 70% were forcibly deported.
A part of the IOM report added: “In total, IOM has recorded 714,572 Afghan migrants who returned from Iran between 1 January and 29 June 2025. Of these, 99 per cent were undocumented and 70 per cent were forcibly returned. A growing concern is the rise in families being deported, marking a shift from previous months when most returnees were single young men.”
According to the IOM report, over 256,000 people entered the country in June alone.
Statistics from the UN Women’s division also show that in the past 21 months, 48% of women and girls returned from Pakistan, and in the last 24 days, 30% of women and girls returned from Iran to Afghanistan.
Mohammad Khan Mohammadzai, a migrant rights activist, said: “The international organizations and the United Nations must take practical action in this regard, otherwise if fundamental measures are not taken, the wave of returning migrants will cause a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.”
The UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, quoting the UNHCR, has warned that with the increase in migrant returns, the situation in Afghanistan is becoming increasingly unstable and unbearable.
“UNHCR warns that as the numbers of Afghans returning rise, the situation is becoming increasingly unsustainable. We continue to stress that the returns of refugees must be safe and must be voluntary and it must be dignified,” Stéphane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, said.
The increase in forced deportations of migrants has triggered widespread reactions. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called on host countries to immediately stop this process.
Zaman Soltani, regional researcher at Amnesty International, said: “We have been urging Pakistan and Iran to immediately stop and halt all forced deportation of Afghan refugees. More than half of the country’s population are in need of humanitarian assistance. Women and girls, nearly half of the populations are denied from their most basic and fundamental rights. Those critical of the Taliban, including members of the former government, can and could face arbitrary arrest.”
Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, also said: “Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned about the deportations of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. These individuals are being deported back to a country that is suffering one of the worst humanitarian and human rights crisis in the world. More than half of the Afghanistan’s population will face food insecurity by the end of this year.”
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate has also repeatedly called for preventing the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from host countries since the start of the expulsion process.
Forced Deportation of Afghan Migrants and Warning of Humanitarian Crisis
Kabulov further said that although the security situation in Afghanistan remains tense, it is “much better than under Western occupation.”
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special presidential envoy for Afghanistan, has called the Islamic Emirate government in Kabul an “Objective partner”in the fight against terrorism and stressed that Russia must support them, including with weapons, to help eliminate the remaining terrorist threats in Afghanistan.
Speaking on the sidelines of the UN-sponsored working group meetings on counter-narcotics and private sector development in Doha, Qatar, Kabulov said: “In this particular case, they [the Taliban authorities] are our objective allies, whom we must support in order to arm them in every sense of the word, so that they successfully suppress all these smallest hotbeds of international terrorism.”
He explained that terrorist groups in Afghanistan had taken root during the NATO presence and that the “Taliban” had already been fighting them back then. “So, this reproach and criticism is not addressed to the Afghan authorities,” Kabulov said.
Kabulov also announced that the Islamic Emirate will participate as a full member in the upcoming Moscow Format meeting, expected to be held in September or October of this year. He said he and Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov have been coordinating with like-minded regional partners on this issue.
In a separate statement to TASS, Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov defended the “Taliban” government, saying that it should not be judged for actions it didn’t take while it was in opposition. He recalled that “even while in opposition during the civil war with the occupation contingent, the Taliban had to fight one more than one front.’
“The Taliban is fighting the Islamic State uncompromisingly and harshly,” Zhirnov emphasized.
Kabulov further said that although the security situation in Afghanistan remains tense, it is “much better than under Western occupation.” He added that the Afghan authorities are doing their best despite facing harsh economic and financial sanctions imposed by Western countries.
He also urged the United States to release nearly $10 billion in frozen Afghan assets and called on Europe to return $2.5 billion that had been deposited in a Swiss bank for humanitarian aid purposes.
“We drew attention to the fact that Afghan problems cannot be solved by meetings, conferences and so on. Afghans need concrete assistance, not promises and analysis of existing problems,” Kabulov said.
He emphasized that Russia’s support is based on honesty and practical action. Referring to the recent business forum held in Kazan in May, he noted that Russian and Afghan delegations discussed concrete, workable projects—not vague promises or empty rhetoric.
Kabulov also confirmed that the new Afghan ambassador recognized by Russia is expected to arrive in Moscow today (Tuesday, July 1).
Kabulov: Russia Should Arm the Taliban Against ISIS
Political analysts say that CSTO member states view their own national stability and interests as directly tied to the situation in Afghanistan.
Foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Afghanistan in its pursuit of peace and stability, according to a joint statement.
The organization, in a released communiqué, said it is ready to cooperate and engage in international efforts for Afghanistan’s development in coordination with the United Nations, and urged the global community to increase humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.
Part of the statement reads: “We reaffirm our intention to support Afghanistan in becoming a peaceful and stable country, and our readiness to take part in international efforts for its development under the central coordinating role of the United Nations.”
“We call on the international community to increase humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people,” it added.
Shamsur Rahman Ahmadzai, an economic analyst, said: “They help all countries of the world in any situation. We too can use these funds or aid from different UN agencies for economic growth.”
Political analysts say that CSTO member states view their own national stability and interests as directly tied to the situation in Afghanistan.
Sayed Ebadullah Sadeq, a political analyst, said: “CSTO countries have an important role in Afghanistan’s peace and security, and they must fulfill it properly. Given Afghanistan’s central location, these countries, along with China, India, Pakistan, and Iran can strengthen their economic, political, trade, and transit ties through coordination with Afghanistan.”
Fazal Rahman Oria, another political analyst, said: “If Afghanistan enjoys lasting peace and stability, development will follow, and this will also help bring progress and stability to Central Asian countries.”
Meanwhile, on June 19 of this year, the President of Kyrgyzstan had also stressed the importance of close and continuous monitoring of the situation in Afghanistan during a meeting of CSTO Security Council Secretaries, describing it as key to ensuring regional peace and security.
The Islamic Emirate has also consistently stated its commitment to maintaining lasting stability in the country.
CSTO States Pledge Support for Peace and Stability in Afghanistan
The talks addressed key issues such as alternative livelihoods, treatment for drug addiction, and development of the private sector and banking systems.
As Afghanistan navigates ongoing economic and social challenges, Doha has hosted a two-day series of technical working group meetings focused on fostering international cooperation and sustainable recovery. The meetings, initiated by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), brought together representatives of the de facto authorities, various countries, and international organizations, concluding today in Qatar.
The sessions were part of a broader UN-led effort to establish a more coherent, coordinated, and structured engagement with Afghanistan’s authorities, following the recommendations of the Independent Assessment submitted to the UN Security Council. The agenda focused on two priority areas: supporting the private sector and combating narcotics.
UNAMA described the meetings as a platform to review progress made so far and to outline actionable steps for the future.
Gul Mohammad Din Mohammadi, a political analyst, said: “Representatives from various ministries of the Islamic Emirate participated in the Doha meetings. The discussions covered several areas, including counter-narcotics, health, and poverty reduction. We hope the Doha meetings lead to sustained support for Afghanistan.”
Delegations from the Ministries of Economy, Commerce, Public Health, Agriculture, Interior, Foreign Affairs, and the Central Bank also attended the two-day sessions in Doha to present practical solutions.
The talks addressed key issues such as alternative livelihoods, treatment for drug addiction, and development of the private sector and banking systems.
Zia Ahmad Takal, Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “This delegation is engaging with representatives of various countries and international organizations to explore potential cooperation in drug prevention and control, alternative livelihoods, addiction treatment, and development of the private and banking sectors.”
Khan Jan Alokozai, a member of the board of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said: “Afghanistan’s private sector, including the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, is striving to work with the UN, the international community, and Qatar to implement economic plans and objectives for the benefit of the Afghan people. These efforts are being executed through UNAMA and UNDP. We are also working to be actively involved in this process.”
An informal session was also held on the sidelines, where special envoys and ambassadors from Pakistan, China, and Russia discussed Afghanistan’s situation and reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening regional cooperation.
UN-Led Doha Talks Focus on Afghan Economy and Drug Control
“We see families arriving with barely anything — often just the clothes on their backs,” said Najib Ghiasi.
He’s on the staff of the Afghan charity Aseel, and he’s speaking about Afghan refugees in Pakistan who lived there for years, even decades — and are now being removed from their homes by police and sent back to the border.
Ghiasi told NPR that a refugee named Mausera spoke to one of his colleagues at Aseel and shared video of the interview. She told Aseel that interviewer that she had lived with her two grandchildren and worked as a cleaner in Pakistan to support them and that – her son had been was killed years ago and her husband abandoned her long before.
Deportations are occurring from Iran as well. The two countries had been home to 3.5 million Afghan refugees. There have been waves of returnees over the last few years, said Sherine Ibrahim, the Afghanistan country director for the International Rescue Committee. But this year, Iran and Pakistan have stepped up the deportations.
A U.N. report released on Thursday says that 71,000 Afghan refugees from the two countries were deported just from June 1 to June 15, adding to millions who have been deported or left since 2023. Ghiasi says he and his colleagues spent much of early June at the Torkham crossing and counted some 5,000 families arriving every day.
This past week has also seen the largest number of returnees in a single day — 30,607, according to Ibrahim.
In videos shared by Aseel, the border crossing is a sea of humanity: Men, women and children packed into trucks, vans and small cars. Some of the women were clutching newborn babies. People sat atop piles of meager belongings, some of which are bundled in bedsheets.
Ghiasi said the forced deportations are hardest on children, who “understand that something terrible is happening, but they don’t fully grasp why they are being removed from the only homes they’ve ever known.” And perhaps the only homes their parents have ever known, he said. “Most of the deportees have lived in Pakistan for over three decades. A large majority of them have nowhere to go and no place to call home upon return.”
The reasons for the waves of deportations aren’t fully clear. Representatives of the two country governments did not respond to an NPR request for comments.
One explanation is that the governments want to remove those immigrants who do not have proper documentation.
On June 7, Fatemeh Mohajerani, an Iranian government spokesperson, told local media: “The government differentiates between legal and illegal residents. The decision is that those with valid legal documents will be allowed to stay in accordance with the law, while those without legal documents may leave.”
The deportations reflect a growing anti-immigrant sentiment worldwide, says Teresa Casale, executive director of Mina’s List, a human rights organization working on resettlement and advocacy for Afghan women refugees. And the U.S. crackdown on immigrants under Trump makes it more difficult if not impossible for Afghan refugees in other countries to resettle in the United States.
And the Afghan refugees in Pakistan have no real rights to protect them. “It’s so unfortunate that Pakistan is not a signatory to any kind of international refugee protocols or conventions, so obtaining legal status for refugees there is virtually impossible,” Casale added.
“In the worst-case scenario, more than three million people could be forced to return to Afghanistan by the end of 2025,” said Jacopo Caridi, country director of Norwegian Refugee Council in Afghanistan.
A bad time to go back
One thing is clear to advocates: The timing couldn’t be worse.
Afghans are returning to a country suffering a humanitarian crisis, which has grown more dire since the Taliban seized power more than three years ago.
“Afghanistan is a humanitarian crisis unto itself,” says Ibrahim of the IRC. “There are 23 million people in need.”
In February and March, other major aid donors, including the U.K., also announced they were curtailing their foreign aid budgets, forcing charities to curtail their activities in Afghanistan, which is among the world’s most reliant countries on international donors. This year, foreign donors have only pledged 20% of what humanitarian groups say they need to offer basic services to Afghanistan, according to Caridi.
Then in early April, all U.S. humanitarian aid to Afghanistan was eliminated. The canceled contracts totaled $280 million with the World Food Programme, $24 million with the United Nations Population Fund and $257 million with other nongovernmental organizations.
What returnees face
Needs will not be met, says Ibrahim: “The surge of numbers means that very few people are going to be getting the immediate support that they need.”
Many of the returnees are women on their own. She says: “I’ve met women who’ve said to me, I’ve been separated from my family. I have nowhere to go. I can’t walk around Afghanistan or travel to a community of origin because I don’t have a mahram, which is the male companion — a blood relative who is a male.”
As families return to Afghanistan, aid workers say they expect to see a rise in child labor. Many of the deported families are headed by women — the Taliban does not allow them to work in most professions so “families rely on children to earn a living,” said Safi Nurzai, who also works at the Afghan aid group As
Ruchi Kumar is a journalist who reports on conflict, politics, development and culture in India and Afghanistan.
Hard to imagine a worse time to deport Afghan refugees, human rights advocates say
Afghanistan Peace Campaign