More than 5,700 Afghan refugees were repatriated from neighboring Iran and Pakistan to Afghanistan in a single day, officials said, highlighting the growing scale of returns as both countries intensify deportations of Afghan nationals.
Mass Returns Amid Tightened Policies
According to a statement shared by Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Taliban‑run High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues, 1,014 families, comprising around 5,580 people, were sent back to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan on Sunday. The returnees re‑entered through major border crossings including Islam Qala in Herat, Torkham in Nangarhar, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Bahramcha in Helmand and Pul‑i‑Abresham in Nimroz.
Fitrat noted that in the latest figures, roughly 1,083 families (nearly 5,900 people) who had returned recently were being relocated to their respective home areas within Afghanistan. Around 900 families received humanitarian assistance, and mobile companies distributed more than 1,100 SIM cards to help returnees reconnect with services and relatives.
Call for Support as Winter Sets In
Many of those returning have expressed concerns about their future, urging Afghan authorities and aid agencies to provide shelter, employment opportunities and basic supplies — particularly with the harsh winter approaching. Some have described arriving with few possessions and facing uncertain conditions at home.
Context of Large‑Scale Repatriation
The surge in repatriation reflects a broader shift in regional migration policies, with Iran and Pakistan stepping up deportations of Afghan refugees and undocumented migrants amid tightening border controls. Humanitarian groups have warned that Afghanistan’s fragile economy and already strained social services may struggle to support the influx of returnees.