The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has raised alarm over escalating hostilities along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border and their growing humanitarian impact. The ongoing conflict along the Durand Line has caused civilian casualties, damaged critical infrastructure, and displaced nearly 66,000 people in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan. These developments threaten further displacement, accelerate returns, and place additional strain on communities already facing limited resources.
Afghanistan is already managing one of the world’s largest returnee-related displacement crises, with over five million returnees recorded in the past two years, including 2.6 million in 2025 alone. Additional conflict-driven displacement or sudden returns would further overwhelm local services, border infrastructure, and host communities, diminishing the capacity to respond effectively.
IOM reports that at least one of its transit centres in Nangarhar province has sustained significant damage amid the recent hostilities. Security concerns have led to the suspension of border operations at Torkham and Bahramcha, restricting humanitarian access and delaying the delivery of vital assistance at a time of rapidly growing needs. Returnees arriving at border points, even in non-crisis periods, often require shelter, protection, and community support, with vulnerabilities sharply increasing during active conflict.
The escalation has also worsened conditions for internally displaced families in Kunar province, many of whom were already affected by a recent earthquake. Cross-border shelling, evacuation orders, and restricted humanitarian access have increased the risk of secondary displacement, leaving families with no safe relocation options. Delays in assistance have further exacerbated vulnerabilities, particularly for women and girls.
IOM emphasizes the need to protect civilians, humanitarian personnel, and facilities, and stresses that safe, sustained, and unimpeded access is essential to maintain lifesaving support. The organization remains committed to prioritizing the safety, dignity, and protection of affected populations on both sides of the border while coordinating with partners and authorities as security conditions allow.
