Civil Society Groups Urge US To Resume Afghan Refugee Resettlement Programmes

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mohammad Sadiq said he discussed Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the return of Afghan nationals with the Deputy High Commissioner of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Following the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government, hundreds of thousands of Afghans particularly former civil servants, military personnel, and those associated with foreign missions fled to neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Iran amid fears of Taliban reprisals.

Nearly four years on, both Pakistan and Iran have ramped up the deportation of Afghan migrants. Over the past year alone, the two countries have expelled an estimated two million Afghans.

While deportations from Pakistan, Iran, and Tajikistan continue to accelerate, resettlement efforts by Western countries have slowed considerably. On Tuesday, Germany’s Foreign Ministry announced a temporary suspension of its Afghan resettlement programme until the formation of a new government.

Meanwhile, under the Trump administration, some Afghan asylum seekers were deported from the United States, a move that has raised alarm among Afghan communities abroad.

Refugee advocacy groups have warned that deported Afghans face the risk of harassment, detention, or persecution by the Taliban. Both the Taliban authorities and the United Nations have repeatedly urged Afghanistan’s neighbours to stop the forced return of Afghan nationals, but these calls have thus far gone largely unheeded.

In a statement issued Thursday, the commission detailed that 3600 migrants re-entered Afghanistan via the Torkham border crossing, 1719 through Spin Boldak, and 72 through Angur Ada. From Iran, 953 migrants returned through the Islam Qala crossing, with another 430 entering via Pul-e-Abrisham.

The commission also noted that financial assistance totalling 5.468 million Afghanis was distributed to returning migrants. Of those deported, 713 individuals were relocated to various provinces, including Ghazni, Baghlan, Kunduz, Takhar, Balkh, Jawzjan, Logar, Khost, Paktia, and Paktika.

Meanwhile, some Pakistani media outlets reported a higher number of deportations, claiming that 9647 Afghans were expelled from Pakistan on the same day. These sources suggest that the total number of Afghans deported from Pakistan has now reached 993089.

The commission, which provides daily updates on deportation figures from both Iran and Pakistan, had reported 4355 deportations on Tuesday.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, at least 100529 Afghan nationals were deported from the country between 1 and 20 April.

In a report released on Wednesday, OCHA highlighted that the United States was the largest donor to Afghanistan in 2024, contributing $736 million, equivalent to 45 percent of the total humanitarian aid provided to the country.

As of the end of February 2025, an estimated 7.3 million people had received at least one form of humanitarian aid, down from 8.6 million during the same period in 2024. The report noted that of the 23.7 million people in need of assistance last year, 20.4 million received some form of aid, with 3.4 million receiving three or more types of support. Women made up 29 percent of all aid recipients.

Looking ahead, OCHA projects that only 12.5 million people will receive aid in 2025 if US support is not renewed, despite the number of people in need remaining high at 22.9 million. The agency stressed that $1.62 billion in funding is required to adequately address humanitarian needs this year.

OCHA also emphasised that over the past two and a half decades, the United States has consistently been the largest contributor to humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan. However, this flow of assistance was disrupted following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, casting uncertainty over future aid commitments.

In an interview with Izvestia newspaper, Kabulov underscored Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources and its strategic geographic position as key assets for future collaboration. He noted that these advantages could help transform the country into a vital transit hub linking Russia, Central Asia, and South Asia.

This development follows a landmark decision last week by Russia’s Supreme Court to suspend the designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organisation. The move, initiated at the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office, took immediate effect, according to Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefyodov.

Shortly after the court’s ruling, Kabulov highlighted that Afghanistan’s evolving status creates opportunities for broader engagement. A high-level Taliban delegation is expected to participate in the upcoming “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, scheduled for May.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that it paves the way for a comprehensive partnership with Kabul, which could serve the interests of both the Russian and Afghan people.

In line with this shift, Moscow is also looking to expand trade relations with the Taliban-led administration. As part of these efforts, Kabulov travelled to Kabul on Wednesday, where he held bilateral talks with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, the rights of Hazaras have been increasingly curtailed, according to the Greens. In a statement released on Wednesday, 23 April, the party expressed pride in supporting the Hazara diaspora in Australia and urged the federal government to provide adequate protection for Hazara refugees. They emphasised that no Hazara refugee should face deportation back to Afghanistan under current conditions.

As Australia’s federal election approaches on 3 May, with early voting already underway, the Greens have called for the government to increase Australia’s annual humanitarian refugee intake to 50,000 people.

“The Greens are committed to ensuring that individuals seeking safety in Australia are treated with dignity and respect, underpinned by a fair immigration system,” the statement said.

Furthermore, the party demanded an end to Australia’s current ban on accepting refugees from Indonesia, highlighting the plight of thousands of Afghan asylum seekers who remain stranded there, awaiting resettlement to safe third countries.

The Greens expressed grave concern over the international community’s perceived inaction, cautioning that continued silence could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and potentially lead to further genocidal acts against the Hazara population.

Additionally, the party highlighted Australia’s responsibilities under the UN Genocide Convention, urging the government to actively prevent genocide, support thorough investigations into human rights abuses, and advocate for accountability regarding international crimes.

The Greens reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to engaging with the Hazara community throughout Australia’s 48th Parliament and pledged to amplify Hazara voices and concerns.