United Nations: Forced Return of Migrants from Iran and Pakistan Has Worsened the Humanitarian Crisis

Photo: A. Majeed / AFP – Getty Images

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that from the beginning of 2025 until July 19, at least 1,541,000 Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries.

According to the report, 1,201,000 of them returned from Iran, with 460,000 entering Afghanistan between July 1 and 19 alone. During the same period, 340,000 Afghan migrants also returned from Pakistan.

OCHA has warned that following the recent decision by the Pakistani government on July 18 not to renew Proof of Registration (PoR) cards in 2025, the number of returning migrants from that country is likely to increase in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also stated in a statement that more than 1.4 million people have returned to Afghanistan since the beginning of the year. Of these, one million returned from Iran and more than 600,000 from Pakistan.

According to the statement, in the month of Hamal alone, about 350,000 people returned from Pakistan, of whom nearly 150,000 were forcibly deported.

The UNHCR has also expressed concern and warned that the forced return of over one million Afghan citizens from Iran and Pakistan has intensified the humanitarian crisis in the country.

The agency stated that Afghan women and girls face severe restrictions, discrimination, and harassment after returning. Ethnic and religious minorities, journalists, and human rights defenders are also under serious threat.

This comes at a time when Afghanistan is facing major economic challenges, social restrictions, and weak governmental institutions that are unable to meet the wide-ranging needs of the returnees.