Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Taliban government’s ambitious plan to relocate millions of internally displaced people (IDPs) to their home provinces has sparked alarm among analysts, who caution that the move could worsen Afghanistan’s already dire humanitarian crisis.
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced Wednesday that 5,000 displaced families in Kabul would be sent back to their regions of origin in the first phase of the initiative, primarily targeting those from the northeastern Kunduz province.
“This is a priority for the ministry,” the Taliban stated, urging national and international organizations to support the effort.
While the initiative aims to address long-term displacement, critics argue that conditions on the ground are unprepared to sustain the returnees.
“It is a good decision to relocate displaced families to their communities of origin,” said Sayed Ahmad Selab, founder of the Selab Charity Foundation and a former parliamentarian. “But it could bring about a humanitarian crisis under the current circumstances.”
Many IDPs fled due to conflict and drought, and their return would leave them without shelter, jobs, or basic services, Selab noted.
Afghanistan is home to 3.2 million IDPs, according to the UNHCR, while over 7.6 million Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan and Iran—1.6 million of them since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
The Taliban’s capacity to manage such a large-scale relocation remains in doubt. Hafiz Ahmad Miakhil, a former adviser to the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, criticized the lack of resources and infrastructure needed to support returnees, emphasizing that schools, shelters, and healthcare are prerequisites for successful repatriation.
“Without international recognition and support, the Taliban cannot implement this plan effectively,” Miakhil said.
The announcement comes amid ongoing forced repatriations of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran, compounding pressure on Afghanistan’s fragile humanitarian system. Observers fear that moving IDPs without adequate preparation could exacerbate displacement and suffering across the country.
