Afghanistan Peace CampaignAccording to the organization’s statistics, nearly 2.9 million Afghans returned to the country during that year.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in its latest report, stated that 2025 was marked by the large-scale return of Afghans from neighboring countries.
According to the organization’s statistics, nearly 2.9 million Afghans returned to the country during that year. Close to half of these returns were forced. Among them, 1.9 million individuals were deported from Iran, 1 million from Pakistan, and 1,953 from Tajikistan.
The report further states that these returns were often accompanied by detention and violations of human rights. Many returnees entered Afghanistan under pressure, following sudden displacement from their places of residence and after enduring difficult journeys.
Return figures from neighboring countries in 2025, as cited in the report:
Iran: 1.9 million people
- 54% undocumented
- 46% holders of census registration slips
- 49% women and girls
- 57% children
Pakistan: 1 million people
- 44% holders of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards
- 2% asylum seekers
- 54% undocumented
- 45% women and children
- 21% unaccompanied children
Faramarz Barzin, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said: “The return process was often marked by sudden deportations, which did not even give individuals the opportunity to gather their belongings. Many were forced to leave behind their assets and were even separated from family members. These issues increased protection and legal risks during return and placed additional pressure on reception and reintegration capacities in areas of return.”
At the same time, families recently returned from Pakistan, particularly women who are heads of households have expressed their concerns and demands.
Zainab, deported from Pakistan, said: “We neither have the ability to return to our home province nor can we afford transportation costs. We want land to be allocated to us so that we can live.”
Another deportee from Pakistan stated: “We borrowed money to pay for the vehicle fare to come here. They should find jobs for our children and provide us with housing.”
The United Nations Assistance Mission has also reported that over the past two years, nearly 5 million people approximately 10 percent of the country’s total population have returned to Afghanistan as a result of forced deportations and strict migration restrictions imposed by neighboring countries.
Although the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has assured that it is prepared to address the needs of returnees, it has repeatedly called on host countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran to prevent the forced deportation of Afghan migrants.