Thousands of Afghan Refugees Forcibly Returned from Iran and Pakistan in a Single Day

KABUL – In a massive wave of forced repatriations, more than 12,000 Afghan refugees were expelled from neighboring Iran and Pakistan in a single day, according to an official from the country’s de facto authorities. The move highlights a deepening refugee crisis and places immense strain on Afghanistan’s fragile humanitarian and economic infrastructure.

Official Figures Reveal Scale of Returns

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), reported on Sunday that a total of 12,455 individuals, comprising 2,098 families, were repatriated on Saturday. The returnees entered the country through five major border crossings: Islam Qala in Herat and Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz (from Iran), and Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Bahramcha in Helmand, and Torkham in Nangarhar (from Pakistan).

According to Fitrat, the returning refugees received varying levels of support upon arrival. While some were transported directly to their home provinces, 2,051 individuals were provided with immediate humanitarian assistance. In a bid to help them reconnect, Afghan telecommunications companies distributed 1,652 SIM cards to the returnees.

A Crisis in Motion: The Push Factors

This single-day figure is part of a much larger, ongoing exodus. The returns come against a backdrop of intensified pressure from host countries:

• From Pakistan: In late 2023, the Pakistani government initiated a large-scale campaign to detain and deport undocumented foreigners, a policy overwhelmingly affecting an estimated 1.7 million Afghans. Despite widespread international condemnation, the deportations have continued, with authorities citing security concerns and economic pressures.
• From Iran: Iran has long hosted millions of Afghans but has periodically carried out forceful deportations. Economic hardship and political tensions in Iran have led to a steady stream of returns, often under harsh conditions.

Humanitarian Organizations Sound the Alarm

The sudden influx of thousands of people, many with little more than the clothes on their backs, presents a monumental challenge for Afghanistan. The country is already grappling with one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, exacerbated by the withdrawal of international aid following the IEA’s takeover in 2021.

“A return of this magnitude in such a short timeframe is overwhelming and deeply concerning,” said a representative from an international aid agency operating in Herat, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “These families are arriving in the winter months, often with no homes, no jobs, and no prospects. The existing aid infrastructure is stretched to its absolute limit, and we fear a sharp rise in malnutrition and disease.”

Returnees often face a precarious future. Many left Afghanistan decades ago and have no remaining support networks or property. They return to a nation plagued by economic collapse, a collapsed banking system, and severe restrictions on women’s rights, which further complicates humanitarian efforts and any potential for recovery.

A Call for International Response

The mass deportations have drawn criticism from human rights groups, which argue that returning individuals to a country with such a dire humanitarian situation may violate the principle of non-refoulement—a core tenet of international law that prohibits sending refugees back to a place where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.

As border crossings like Torkham and Spin Boldak continue to see long lines of weary returnees, the international community is being urged to increase humanitarian funding and pressure host nations to halt forcible returns. For the tens of thousands of Afghans who have already returned and the millions more who may follow, the future remains uncertain and fraught with hardship.

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