Afghanistan allocates 94,000 acres across 60 townships for deported migrants
Taliban-led government launches land resettlement plan as returnees from Iran and Pakistan face housing crisis
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has announced plans to allocate more than 94,000 acres of land across 60 newly planned townships in 25 provinces, aiming to resettle thousands of forcibly deported migrants returning from Iran and Pakistan.
The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing says the project is part of a broader response to the rising number of returnees who arrive with no shelter or means of livelihood. According to TOLOnews, nearly 80,000 migrant families have been registered so far by the High Commission for Refugees for permanent land allotment.
“Our provincial committees are actively identifying and surveying land,” said ministry spokesperson Kamal Afghan. “Once finalized, plots will be distributed to returnee families in their respective provinces.”
The announcement comes amid mounting pressure on authorities to provide basic support to returnees, many of whom have been deported under harsh conditions. Shelter remains one of the most urgent needs.
“I have no home. We are nine in the family and sleep under broken walls,” said Zekrullah, recently deported from Iran. “I don’t even have land to rebuild.”
Another deportee welcomed the idea but remained cautious: “It’s a good step, but we need food and jobs too. Shelter alone won’t solve everything.”
Experts have raised concerns about the viability of the project without sustained international support. “Managing such a large number of returnees requires more than land,” said economist Mohammad Nabi. “It needs funding, planning, and coordination with international refugee agencies.”
The government has yet to share a timeline for plot distribution or details on infrastructure and services in the proposed townships. Observers warn that delays, red tape, or lack of transparency could erode trust among returnees who have already endured displacement and hardship.
With deportations from Iran and Pakistan accelerating, the demand for housing, employment, and social support is growing. Authorities are under pressure not only to deliver land, but to create the conditions for long-term reintegration.
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