Zillar Barta Desk : India has raised concerns over the humanitarian situation facing Afghan returnees at the United Nations Security Council, calling for their return to be safe, voluntary and dignified. India said the international community must pay greater attention to the difficulties faced by Afghans being forced to return to the country.
Speaking at a UNSC meeting on Afghanistan, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said a UN report recorded around 2.9 million Afghan returns in 2025, while another 1.15 million people had returned by August 22, 2026. India expressed concern that most of these returns were involuntary and warned that large-scale forced returns could worsen the humanitarian situation.
India also linked the humanitarian situation to the broader security challenges facing Afghanistan. New Delhi stressed the need to dismantle terrorist networks, recruitment and financing mechanisms, as well as environments that allow extremist groups to operate.
During the discussion, India referred to the history of al-Qaeda and the locations where senior figures connected with the September 11 attacks were eventually found. India argued that the international community must remain vigilant against terrorist organisations receiving shelter or support. It specifically raised concerns about groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
India’s intervention came as the humanitarian crisis surrounding Afghan migrants and returnees continues to attract international attention. Recent reports have highlighted difficult conditions for Afghans returning from neighbouring countries, including limited employment opportunities and serious economic hardship.
New Delhi emphasised that Afghanistan’s stability requires both humanitarian assistance and sustained international efforts against terrorism, particularly networks that could threaten regional and global security.
