Tens of thousands of Afghan citizens are returning from Pakistan each month, with many arriving in Jalalabad, where the population has doubled to 600,000 in two years. Rising demand has pushed monthly rents for a two-room house to 4,000 afghanis ($60).
According to the UN, Iran and Pakistan have returned roughly 3 million Afghans over the past year, including 150,000 in the last six weeks. Afghanistan now faces a population surge of 12 per cent since 2023, straining housing, schools, and hospitals.
Key developments:
• UNHCR representative Arafat Jamal warns many returnees may attempt onward migration or be recruited by militant groups.
• Economic growth rose 4.3% in 2024–25, but per capita GDP fell 4% due to population pressures.
• Taliban officials are implementing land allocation schemes for returnees but call for international support.
Afghanistan confronts overlapping crises: earthquakes, regional tensions, aid shortfalls, and long-term displacement challenges.
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