Taliban Official Calls for Afghan Exiles to Return with Amnesty Offer to Boost National Reconciliation

In a significant message coinciding with the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha, Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund offered amnesty to Afghans who left the country following the collapse of the previous government, assuring them that they can return home without fear of retribution. The statement, delivered via social media, emphasized a desire for national reconciliation as he urged, “Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland. Nobody will harm them.”

The call comes at a time of heightened uncertainty for Afghans abroad. Just days before, a sweeping travel ban was announced by former U.S. President Donald Trump, blocking entry for people from 12 countries—including Afghanistan. This policy, along with the suspension of a key refugee program earlier in the year, has rapidly narrowed paths to resettlement for tens of thousands of Afghans, particularly those who had worked with American forces or organizations during the 20-year military presence.

Many Afghans remain stranded in neighboring countries. In Pakistan, where more than a million Afghan nationals have been forced to leave since October 2023 amid a government deportation campaign, anxiety and uncertainty persist. Prime Minister Akhund directly addressed these refugees, instructing Taliban officials to ensure that returnees are given shelter and assistance: “Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace,” he said.

Since seizing control in mid-August 2021 after a rapid offensive that left the then-Western-backed government in disarray, the Taliban's promises of general amnesty have been met with skepticism by many Afghans, especially former officials, journalists, activists, and those who assisted foreign troops. Memories of the chaotic evacuation at Kabul airport and ongoing reports about reprisals have contributed to persistent fears about the safety of returning.

Akhund’s Eid message also took aim at the international media, criticizing what he described as “false judgements” regarding both the Taliban’s rule and the conditions inside Afghanistan. “We must not allow the torch of the Islamic system to be extinguished,” he asserted, while urging journalists to acknowledge what he called the regime’s accomplishments even as he conceded that “challenges exist.”

Despite the assurances, questions remain about how the Taliban will address the concerns of Afghans who continue to fear persecution or lack basic services. With the international community divided on engagement and many humanitarian programs scaled back or suspended, the fate of potential returnees hangs in the balance as Afghanistan navigates its future under Taliban rule.