According to information released by the Taliban’s “Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities,” 32 former government officials, military personnel, and political figures have returned to Afghanistan through the coordination of this commission since the beginning of 2026.
According to the commission, on 1 January, Rahmatullah Ayar, the former deputy head of the General Directorate of Border Police under the previous government’s Ministry of Interior, returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. Three days later, two former government military pilots also returned to the country and were issued security assurance cards by the commission.
The commission stated that the pilots had said they left the country after the political changes of 2021 due to “misleading propaganda,” but that they were now pleased with their return.
On 8 January, the commission announced that 15 additional former officials and former security personnel had returned to Afghanistan and were provided with security assurance cards. Among them were Ahmad Farhad Majidi, a former member of the House of Representatives, Fatima Nazari, Abdul Qahir Qadir, the brother of Haji Zahir Qadir, a former deputy border police official, and several other former government officials.
Similarly, on 16 February, Azizulrahman Afzali, the former mayor of Kapisa city under the previous government, returned to Afghanistan from the United States with the coordination of the same commission.
According to the commission, other returnees include several former military commanders, security officials, members of parliament, provincial and local authorities, former deputy ministers, university lecturers, and other government employees.
The Taliban government says that the Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities was established to facilitate the return of former government officials, political figures, and professionals. The commission provides security assurances to returnees, issues security cards, and seeks to encourage their participation in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development.
However, several human rights organizations and some former government officials say that many former security personnel and state employees continue to avoid returning to Afghanistan due to concerns over possible detention, prosecution, and other security risks.
In recent months, several former security force officers have been killed in attacks by unidentified armed individuals in various parts of Afghanistan. However, no official information has been released regarding the arrest of the perpetrators or the results of investigations into these incidents.
Analysts consider the number of people who have returned through the commission to be limited compared with the overall number and influence of former officials and security personnel living abroad. They say that some individuals have left Afghanistan again after resolving their financial and personal affairs.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
