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Amnesty International Says Returned Afghan Refugees Face Rights Violations

June 20, 2026
Khaama Press

Amnesty International has warned that Afghan refugees who are returned to Afghanistan face serious human rights violations and worsening humanitarian conditions, as deportations from neighboring countries continue to increase.

Marking World Refugee Day on Saturday, Amnesty International said millions of Afghan refugees and migrants are facing growing pressure, detention and deportation in host countries. The organization added that many Afghans experience arbitrary arrests, family separations and other protection concerns before being returned.

In a statement posted on X, Amnesty International said that many deported Afghans return to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, where they face insecurity, economic hardship and restrictions on fundamental rights.

The warning comes as international agencies report a sharp rise in returns from neighboring countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) have repeatedly called for refugee returns to be voluntary, safe and dignified, while urging greater international support for returnees and host communities.

Pakistan has been at the center of the latest deportation wave. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently said that around 2.4 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan since September 2023, including both voluntary returnees and those deported under Pakistan’s repatriation policies. Human rights groups and aid agencies have expressed concern about the impact of these large-scale returns on vulnerable families.

Afghanistan continues to face a deep humanitarian and economic crisis. Millions of people rely on humanitarian assistance, while women and girls remain subject to extensive restrictions on education, employment and public life under Taliban rule. Rights organizations say these conditions make reintegration particularly difficult for returning refugees.

The situation has become increasingly challenging for Afghan journalists, former government employees, women activists and others who fear persecution upon return. International organizations have urged governments not to forcibly return individuals who may face serious risks in Afghanistan.

Amnesty International called on governments to uphold international refugee protection standards and ensure that Afghan refugees are not returned to conditions that could place their safety, rights and dignity at risk.

Amnesty International Says Returned Afghan Refugees Face Rights Violations
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US Budget Bill Seeks to Block Transfer of Afghan Allies From Qatar to High-Risk Countries

June 18, 2026

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

 

A proposed US defense spending bill for 2027 includes provisions that could prevent the transfer of former Afghan allies from Qatar to Afghanistan or other countries deemed unsafe.

A draft US defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2027 contains measures aimed at protecting Afghan nationals who previously worked with American forces and are currently awaiting resettlement in Qatar, according to advocacy group AfghanEvac.

AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver said the preliminary versions of the National Defense Authorization Act being considered by the US Senate and House of Representatives include provisions related to former Afghan partners of the United States.

According to VanDiver, one provision would restrict the transfer of Afghans housed at a processing center in Qatar to Afghanistan or other countries considered high-risk from a security perspective. Another section proposes the preservation and protection of records related to Afghans who assisted US military operations.

The draft legislation also includes a proposal to extend the mandate of the Afghanistan War Commission, allowing additional time for completion of its final report on the two-decade US involvement in Afghanistan.

AfghanEvac warned, however, that uncertainty remains over implementation timelines. The organization noted that the processing facility in Qatar, which hosts more than 1,000 Afghans who previously worked alongside US forces, is expected to close by September 2026.

The issue comes as thousands of Afghans linked to Western governments and military missions continue to await relocation to the United States and other countries under special immigration and humanitarian programs. Advocacy groups have repeatedly warned that delays in processing applications leave many former interpreters, contractors and support staff in prolonged uncertainty.

The debate also coincides with a worsening humanitarian situation inside Afghanistan. International aid agencies report that millions of Afghans remain dependent on humanitarian assistance amid economic hardship, restrictions affecting women and girls, food insecurity and limited access to essential services.

Humanitarian organizations have further expressed concern over the growing influx of Afghan returnees from neighboring Iran and Pakistan. Since late 2023, millions of Afghans have returned or been deported from the two countries, placing additional pressure on already strained communities, public services and aid resources across Afghanistan.

Many Afghan refugees also remain in Pakistan while awaiting resettlement decisions, while others are being processed through temporary facilities in Qatar. Rights groups have urged Western governments to accelerate relocation programs, arguing that former Afghan allies face significant security risks if returned to Afghanistan before their cases are resolved.

If approved by Congress and signed by the US president, the proposed legislation would become law and could provide additional safeguards for vulnerable Afghans still seeking permanent resettlement.

US Budget Bill Seeks to Block Transfer of Afghan Allies From Qatar to High-Risk Countries
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IOM: Over 6M Afghans Returned From Iran, Pakistan Since 2023

June 18, 2026
Hadia Ziaei
Tolo News
18 June 2026

International organizations and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have repeatedly called on host countries to prevent the forced deportation of Afghan migrants.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that more than 6.04 million Afghan citizens returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan between September 2023 to May 2026.

According to the report, beyond changing patterns of population movement, the scale and speed of this return wave have created significant challenges for reintegration and strengthening long-term resilience in Afghanistan.

The organization emphasized that effective reintegration strategies and timely support are essential for enhancing community resilience and the absorption capacity of host communities.

The report states that many returnees, some of whom have spent decades or even their entire lives abroad, arrive with limited social networks, little familiarity with local systems and norms, and restricted access to housing, livelihood opportunities, public services, civil documentation, and support mechanisms. The report also reads that effective reintegration strategies and timely assistance are therefore not only critical for the well-being and stability of returnees, but are also necessary for strengthening community resilience and the absorption capacity of host communities, contributing to greater social cohesion and solidarity.

Abdul Zohor Modaber, an economic analyst, said: “Some returnees possess valuable skills, expertise, and knowledge and can contribute productively to the country’s workforce and economy. However, others lack the necessary skills and education, and the government needs to provide them with full support.”

Nader Khan, who left for Pakistan 43 years ago and has now returned to Afghanistan at the age of 52, described the difficulties migrants have faced in recent years in Pakistan.

Speaking to TOLOnews, he said: “The detention and imprisonment of migrants increased, so we left and came back. We have no concerns; we have returned to our own country and will work here.”

Another returnee from Pakistan, Shah Mahmood, said: “Our request from the Islamic Emirate is to provide us with employment opportunities and educational opportunities for our children, especially our daughters.”

Experts believe that the forced return of Afghan citizens requires a coordinated response between aid organizations and the Islamic Emirate to ensure that returnees receive proper support.

Ali Reza Karimi, a migrant rights activist, said: “International organizations should support returnees through temporary shelter, humanitarian assistance, education, and job creation. At the same time, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should facilitate returnees’ access to employment, education, and essential services.”

International organizations and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have repeatedly called on host countries to prevent the forced deportation of Afghan migrants.

IOM: Over 6M Afghans Returned From Iran, Pakistan Since 2023
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Hanafi: Opponents Seeking to Discredit the Islamic Emirate

June 18, 2026
TOLOnews
TV Network
18 June 2026

Hanafi stated that opponents are seeking to discredit the Islamic Emirate and influence the mindset of young people.

Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, Acting Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said at the conclusion of a conference for the ministry’s inspectors that divisions previously created among Afghans by what he described as “enemies of the faith” had been removed following the establishment of the Islamic system.

Hanafi stated that opponents are seeking to discredit the Islamic Emirate and influence the mindset of young people. He also described the hijab as a religious obligation for women and rejected recent criticism from the international community.

“The inspectors of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice advise their sisters about hijab in a respectful manner. This is for their benefit and in the interest of our brothers and sisters. Why should others interfere in our religious affairs?” Hanafi said.

He called on religious preachers and ministry inspectors to implement Islamic teachings with kindness and patience, stressing the importance of self-reform before attempting to guide others.

“We must first reform ourselves. If we fail to correct our own shortcomings, how can we speak about reforming others?” he said.

Hanafi also said that knowledge without action is of little value, adding that knowledge can serve as a source of guidance but may also lead people astray if not applied properly.

Hanafi: Opponents Seeking to Discredit the Islamic Emirate
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Afghanistan Issues Ban on Smartphones for Civil Servants and Military

June 18, 2026

Reporting from Kabul and Kandahar, Afghanistan, and from Islamabad, Pakistan

The New York Times

Afghanistan’s leader has ordered all civil servants and members of the country’s armed forces to stop bringing their smartphones to work as of Wednesday, the latest restriction on individual freedoms imposed by the Taliban government.

Some government agencies have scrambled for alternatives, reverting to regular cellular calls instead of WhatsApp, which they overwhelmingly rely on as they try to keep a country of 45 million running amid economic isolation, devastating aid cuts and a conflict with neighboring Pakistan.

Afghanistan’s highest court issued the order, but it did not provide a justification for it.

Government representatives did not respond to requests for comment, but eight civil servants, police officers and education professionals in five provinces confirmed the authenticity of the ban and said that it had begun taking effect in their offices.

“We have received the order and are in the process of implementing it,” Khalid Ahmad Fazli, a communications official in Daikundi Province, told The New York Times.

Those caught using their smartphones will have them smashed and face punishment, according to a copy of the order circulating online.

As news of the ban ricocheted across social media, civil servants and security personnel posted videos of colleagues smashing their smartphones to comply with the new rule.

In the clips, some workers said, “Our work shows obedience to the Emir’s order,” in a reference to Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada, the ultraconservative cleric who rules Afghanistan and ordered the ban.

A police officer in Samangan Province, in northern Afghanistan, said that the Supreme Court had sent a letter announcing the ban to his headquarters and that a senior police official had told officers on Tuesday, “Be careful not to use smartphones, this is an order from the Emir and we cannot oppose it.”

In Nangarhar Province, in the east, a high school teacher said that officers from the Taliban’s morality police had begun confiscating smartphones at the school’s gate on Wednesday. A WhatsApp group for teachers and administrative staff has gone silent, he said.

Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, they have stifled freedom of expression by repressing protests, controlling what people wear, and restricting access to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Snap. Last September, the government imposed a countrywide internet blackout for two days under the guise of preventing “immoral behavior” online.

A similar rationale seems to be at play with the latest ban.

During a meeting earlier this month in the southern city of Kandahar, religious scholars and judges from a military court asked Sheikh Haibatullah to issue a countrywide ban on smartphones to prevent what they described as the spread of pornography and corruption, according to one participant and another person briefed on the meeting.

Other religious and administrative leaders also asked Sheikh Haibatullah for a total ban in a separate meeting the following day.

Sheikh Haibatullah then issued a mandate that he said would target, as a first step, all soldiers, civil servants, teachers and government officials, according to the Supreme Court order. Those seeking exemption must obtain written permission from the supreme leader.

It was not immediately clear how the order would be implemented: Hundreds of thousands of people work in the Taliban-ruled administration or serve in its security forces.

An employee in the financial department of Herat Province said that his office had received the order from the Ministry of Finance but that as of Thursday, he and his colleagues were still using their smartphones at work.

Many members of the Taliban movement do not bring their smartphones to government offices as they deem them immoral and distracting, even though most of them own one. As of 2024, there were 25 million mobile subscriptions in Afghanistan, according to the World Bank.

Asadullah, a civil servant in central Afghanistan, said the ban had already left him struggling to complete his daily tasks. He said, “Out of habit, I checked my pocket several times today and it felt as if I had lost something.”

Elian Peltier is The Times’s bureau chief for Pakistan and Afghanistan, based in Islamabad.

Afghanistan Issues Ban on Smartphones for Civil Servants and Military
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New Smartphone Curbs Target Civil and Military Employees in Afghanistan

June 17, 2026
Khaama Press

A nationwide ban on the use of smartphones by civilian and military government employees has been approved in Afghanistan, with violators facing legal punishment and confiscation of their devices.

Sources in the Kabul provincial administration confirmed on Wednesday that a ban on smartphone use by government and security personnel has been formally approved and will be implemented across civilian and military institutions.

According to the sources, a meeting involving senior officials was held at the Kabul governor’s office following the issuance of the directive, where authorities agreed to fully enforce the measure. Employees who fail to comply could be referred to a military court.

The ban was initially communicated verbally to eight security zones in Kabul last week, but it is now set to be expanded to all government departments. A written directive obtained by local media states that employees who violate the order could face “legal and religious punishment,” while their smartphones may be confiscated and destroyed.

The move is part of broader efforts by the authorities to tighten control over communications within state institutions. Officials have not publicly explained the reasons behind the measure, but critics argue that such restrictions could further limit access to information and reduce transparency within government offices.

The decision comes amid continuing concerns from rights groups and media organizations about restrictions on access to information and freedom of expression in Afghanistan. Journalists and civil society activists have repeatedly warned that growing limitations on communications and information-sharing have made independent reporting and public oversight increasingly difficult.

International organizations have also expressed concern over measures affecting digital access and communications in the country. Rights advocates argue that restricting access to modern communication tools can hinder the flow of information, limit government accountability and further isolate public institutions from citizens.

The directive is expected to take effect from the beginning of the Islamic month of Muharram, corresponding to June 17, with authorities indicating that compliance will be closely monitored across government agencies.

New Smartphone Curbs Target Civil and Military Employees in Afghanistan
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OCHA Warns Restrictions Limiting Afghan Women’s Access to Life-Saving Healthcare

June 17, 2026
Khaama Press

The UN humanitarian agency has warned that growing restrictions on Afghan women and girls are further limiting access to critical healthcare services in a country already facing one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed concern that restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan are undermining access to essential and life-saving services, particularly healthcare.

Olga Cherevko, an OCHA official for Afghanistan, said the country continues to record one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with nearly 600 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. She warned that humanitarian challenges are disproportionately affecting women and girls.

According to OCHA, restrictions on women’s participation in public life and employment are reducing both the effectiveness of humanitarian operations and the ability of women and girls to access critical services. The agency stressed that female healthcare workers remain indispensable to maternal and newborn care across Afghanistan.

Cherevko highlighted a hospital in Bamyan that operates the region’s only neonatal intensive care unit, noting that many female health workers there continue to provide life-saving care for mothers and newborns despite mounting challenges.

The warning comes as Afghanistan’s healthcare system faces growing pressure from funding shortages and staffing gaps. OCHA has repeatedly called for greater investment in the training, recruitment and retention of female health professionals to reduce preventable maternal and infant deaths.

The concerns also follow recent warnings from UNICEF, which said Afghanistan could face a shortage of 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers by 2030 if restrictions on women’s education and employment continue. UNICEF has additionally warned of major funding shortfalls that threaten essential humanitarian and health services across the country.

International agencies have also raised alarm over deteriorating humanitarian conditions in several provinces, including remote areas of Badakhshan, where difficult terrain, limited medical infrastructure and shortages of skilled personnel continue to restrict access to healthcare. The World Health Organization recently emphasized the need to expand life-saving health services in underserved communities across the province.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and higher education, limits on employment and restrictions on movement. UN agencies say these measures are not only affecting women’s rights but are also weakening Afghanistan’s healthcare, education and humanitarian sectors.

OCHA stressed that sustaining health services, supporting female medical staff and ensuring women and girls can safely access healthcare remain essential to addressing Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian crisis.

OCHA Warns Restrictions Limiting Afghan Women’s Access to Life-Saving Healthcare
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EU Reiterates Call for Inclusive Government in Afghanistan

June 17, 2026
Tolo News
17 June 2026

The EU delegation stated that an inclusive political framework could help Afghanistan achieve lasting peace and stability.

The European Union has once again emphasized the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The EU delegation stated that an inclusive political framework could help Afghanistan achieve lasting peace and stability.

The bloc also called for unhindered humanitarian access across Afghanistan and for guarantees that women can participate in the delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country.

Political analyst Moeen Gul Samkanai said: “First, the concept of an inclusive government must be clearly defined. If the EU’s objective is the return of former political figures to the current system, I believe that is unrealistic. However, a structure in which responsibilities are entrusted to qualified individuals could be acceptable to some extent.”

The EU’s renewed call comes as the Islamic Emirate has consistently described the issue as an internal Afghan matter and has regarded comments by foreign countries on the subject as interference in domestic affairs.

Nevertheless, the formation of an inclusive government has been a recurring demand over the past four years, raised not only by Western countries but also by regional states.

Previously, member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in a joint statement issued on September 2, 2025, following a two-day summit in China, also stressed that the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan is the only path toward lasting peace and stability in the country.

EU Reiterates Call for Inclusive Government in Afghanistan
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Pakistan Defense Minister: Talks with Afghanistan Have Failed

June 17, 2026
Mitra Majeedy
Journalist
Tolo News
17 Jine 2026

Responding to calls for continued dialogue, he urged Pakistani politicians to visit Afghanistan and obtain guarantees.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has told parliament that all talks held with Afghanistan have yielded no results.

Asif claimed that during negotiations between the two countries, Islamabad was prepared to accept the Islamic Emirate’s demands, but said the Islamic Emirate refused to provide written guarantees.

Responding to calls for continued dialogue, he urged Pakistani politicians to visit Afghanistan and obtain guarantees.

He stated: “If any member of this house who advocates dialogue can secure guarantees and travel there with a delegation, we are ready. But they should not return empty-handed. We have tried every avenue and failed to obtain assurances and commitments.”

During the same session, parliament member Khushhal Khan Kakar criticized the defense minister, arguing that Afghanistan is not Pakistan’s enemy.

Emphasizing the importance of trade with Afghanistan, he called for the reopening of trade routes between the two countries.

Kakar said: “You described Afghanistan and Afghans as your enemies. We accept that some of our policies may have angered Afghans, but they are not your enemies.”

Another parliamentarian, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, stated that if negotiations between the United States and Iran can succeed, talks with Afghanistan can also be productive, urging serious and meaningful dialogue.

The Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on Asif’s remarks. Previously, however, it attributed the failure of Afghanistan-Pakistan talks to the lack of authority of Pakistani delegations and the existence of elements within Pakistan’s system that seek to undermine bilateral relations.

The remarks come a day after the leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam also criticized his country’s policy toward Afghanistan and called for a review of it.

Pakistan Defense Minister: Talks with Afghanistan Have Failed
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Trump says US may recover all the equipment left behind in Afghanistan by Biden admin

June 17, 2026

By James Cirrone 

Fox News
Published 
During the G7, President Trump said he may regain US military equipment left in Afghanistan after 2021 withdrawal.

President Donald Trump criticized former President Joe Biden’s foreign policy record at the G7 Summit, while touting the forthcoming agreement with Iran.

President Donald Trump suggested he may be able to get back the equipment the U.S. military left behind during Joe Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Trump made these comments at the G7 Summit while taking questions from reporters about the forthcoming agreement with Iran to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz.

In response to a question about how the deal will address Iran’s nuclear program, Trump repeatedly said he would “bomb them” if they do not comply with proposed restrictions.placeholder

He then transitioned into criticizing Biden’s foreign policy record, spotlighting the Democratic former president’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan and abandon dozens of military aircraft, thousands of ground vehicles and more than 300,000 weapons, according to the House Budget Committee.

“Our country has become the most respected country in the world,” he said. “Look at what happened in so many different locations. Afghanistan, that horrible retreat that these people made. Leaving equipment behind. They weren’t under any pressure. Take your time.”

“I was going to get out,” he continued. “We were going to get out with dignity and pride. Take 100% of the equipment. I was even taking the tents down. But then [Biden] got in and they just left. They left all the equipment. I may get all that equipment back. Now, here’s the thing. It’s more symbolic because it’s a little old now, but we may get it all back. Afghanistan is kissing our a–.”

In June 2022, the Department of Defense estimated that $7.12 billion worth of military equipment ended up in the hands of the Taliban, which quickly seized control of the country after American troops departed.

TRUMP: ‘WE DON’T RUN FROM ANYBODY’ IN BLASTING BIDEN OVER AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL

Trump and his allies have long been critical of what they view as Biden’s hasty decision to end the war in Afghanistan, which lasted for nearly 20 years.placeholder

Biden officials at the time defended the withdrawal by pointing out that the equipment seized by the Taliban was in the hands of the U.S.-aligned government in Afghanistan that ended up surrendering.

Biden himself said he believed that the Afghan fighters supported by the U.S. were going to do a better job at holding the country.

“The assumption was that more than 300,000 Afghan National Security Forces that we had trained over the past two decades and equipped would be a strong adversary in their civil wars with the Taliban,” he said on Aug. 31, 2021. “That assumption — that the Afghan government would be able to hold on for a period of time beyond military drawdown — turned out not to be accurate.”

Members and supporters of the Taliban stand on a U.S. flag during a rally marking the third anniversary of the fall of Kabul in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 14, 2024.

Under Taliban rule, women and girls remain repressed. More than 1 million girls have been banned from secondary school and university. An April UNICEF report claimed that Afghanistan risks losing more than 25,000 teachers and healthcare workers due to the new government’s restrictions on female employment.

The country is also dealing with a hunger crisis, with roughly 17.4 million Afghans at risk for severe food insecurity this year, according to the World Food Programme.

Trump says US may recover all the equipment left behind in Afghanistan by Biden admin
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