1.6 Million Afghans Have Returned from Pakistan Since the Start of 1404

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that more than 2.5 million Afghan nationals have returned from Pakistan between 24 Sunbula 1402 (September 15, 2023) and 9 Saratan 1405 (June 30, 2026).

According to the report, 1.6 million people have returned since 12 Hamal 1404 (April 1, 2025), including more than 213,000 who were deported. Fear of arrest remains the primary reason for the return of 95 percent of Afghans.

The IOM report states: “During the reporting period, the number of returns declined by 33 percent and deportations by 38 percent compared with the previous reporting period (1–25 Jawza of the current year). Since 12 Hamal 1404, more than 1,692,000 Afghan nationals have returned to their country, of whom more than 213,740—equivalent to 13 percent—were deported.”

Rohullah, one of the Afghans deported from Pakistan, was born and raised there. He says he made a living by running a small shop but faced growing hardships over the past year and a half. “Over the past year and a half, the situation became very difficult. We were arrested and sent back to Afghanistan, while our shops were left behind in Pakistan.”

Abdul Raziq Adil, a migrant rights activist, said: “Unless these organizations can use diplomatic pressure to stop the forced deportations and help establish the necessary infrastructure to absorb this population inside Afghanistan, the cycle of poverty and displacement will undoubtedly continue.”

Gol Jan, who had lived in Pakistan for 46 years, has now returned to Afghanistan with her seven children. Like many other returnees, she hopes her children—especially her daughters—will have opportunities to grow and succeed. “They should provide educational opportunities for our children. Our daughters were forced to leave school in Pakistan while they were in different grades.”

Another deportee, Ezzatullah, said: “They should provide us with jobs, allocate land to us, and ensure that our children have access to education.”

Earlier, United Nations agencies reported that nearly six million Afghan migrants have returned from Pakistan and Iran since the mass deportation process began in Sunbula 1402 (September 2023). The large-scale returns have placed significant pressure on Afghanistan’s public services and the reintegration of returnees.