Taliban Unveils Five-Year Plan to Resettle Returning Refugees Amid Deportations

The Taliban marked the fourth anniversary of its return to power by announcing a five-year development plan focused on housing and resettling millions of Afghan refugees being deported from Iran, Pakistan and beyond, as reports The Telegraph.

The plan pledges to prepare the «dignified and safe return of Afghan refugees,» with officials promising to build 21 new residential towns equipped with basic services for returnees. Housing Minister Najibullah Haqqani said land allocation has already begun in several provinces, adding:

«The goal of starting this programme is to help provide sustainable housing for families who returned to Afghanistan.»

Afghanistan faces one of the world’s largest displacement crises, worsened by mass deportations from Iran and Pakistan. Nearly 2.5 mln Afghans have been sent back in the past 18 months, often to overcrowded shelters. UN agencies report that 450K people have been deported since June alone, including 5K children separated from their parents.

The Taliban’s plan comes as the regime signals willingness to accept Afghans deported from the UK under Nigel Farage’s proposed migration crackdown, though officials said they would not take payment for returns, only humanitarian aid.

Despite promises, humanitarian groups warn Afghanistan lacks the resources to absorb returnees amid poverty, food insecurity, and restrictions on women’s rights. Still, Taliban officials insist Afghanistan «is home to all Afghans» and that social order will be maintained.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has stated that the national economy is forecast by the IMF to surpass $130 bn this year.