KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has expressed concern over a sharp rise in the deportation of Afghans from Iran, as thousands of families have been expelled in recent weeks.
In its latest report, the IOM revealed that more than 15,600 Afghan families were deported in May alone, more than double the number in April and triple that of the same month last year.
Between January and May 2025, more than 450,000 Afghans returned from Iran, according to the agency. Among them, 8% were women and 21% were children, highlighting the vulnerability of those being forced to leave.
Iranian authorities have set July 6 as the deadline for all undocumented Afghans to leave the country — a decision that could affect up to 4 million people, according to the IOM.
The agency also highlighted a similar trend in Pakistan, where thousands of Afghans continue to be deported each week under a policy launched in October 2023.
The IOM has called on all governments to immediately suspend forced returns, urging them to wait until conditions in Afghanistan allow for “safe, voluntary, and dignified” repatriation.
Both Iran and Pakistan, long-time hosts to millions of Afghan refugees, have intensified deportations in recent months. Each day, thousands are being sent back to a country facing economic hardship, insecurity, and widespread human rights violations under Taliban rule.
The IOM previously reported that over 1.2 million Afghans returned from Iran in 2024, with nearly 70% of them forcibly removed. Iranian officials say they plan to deport up to 2 million Afghan refugees by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, at least 1.3 million Afghans have already been expelled from Pakistan since the deportation campaign began. The UN estimates that another 1.6 million could be deported from Pakistan this year.
UN agencies, rights groups, and Afghan activists have repeatedly called on both governments to halt the mass deportations. They warn that many returnees—especially women, former officials, journalists, and civil society members—face threats of retaliation, detention, or abuse by the Taliban.
