A record-breaking number of Afghans are being forced to return to their country of origin following intensified deportation campaigns by Pakistan and Iran. The UN’s Refugee Agency reports that approximately one million people have been expelled this year alone, bringing the total returnees to six million over the past three years since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. This represents an unprecedented scale of involuntary migration in recent history, according to humanitarian officials on the ground.
Both neighboring countries have cited security concerns and financial strain as justifications for the expulsions. Pakistan intensified enforcement following escalated military conflict with Afghanistan last October, with human rights organizations documenting door-to-door raids and arrests without warrants. Iran accelerated deportations following its military engagement with Israel and the US in June 2025, with authorities allegedly using the post-conflict environment to cast suspicion on Afghan migrants. Officials from both nations argue it is time for Afghans to return home, though Pakistan’s government disputes claims of systematic harassment.
Many returnees face extraordinary hardship upon arrival. Numerous individuals have spent decades abroad and some, like 35-year-old Nazia, have never previously set foot in Afghanistan. They arrive with minimal resources, no housing, and limited employment prospects. Temporary transit facilities near border crossings provide only basic shelter in extreme heat, while families struggle to envision viable futures in a country facing severe economic constraints and reduced international aid.
Vulnerable populations face compounded challenges. Women and girls express deep concern about their prospects under Taliban governance, which has implemented restrictions on female education and public participation. Former Afghan security personnel and government officials report living in fear despite an amnesty declaration issued by the Taliban, citing cases of colleagues who have been killed. These individuals often lack trust in official assurances of safety, with some refusing to leave their homes due to perceived threats.
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