KABUL – More than 4 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since September 2023, including over 1.5 million in 2025 alone, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday, warning of an deepening humanitarian crisis unless urgent funding is secured.
Calling it one of the largest return movements in recent history, the IOM said Afghanistan is under increasing pressure as more deportations are expected, particularly from Pakistan, which has confirmed it will no longer extend temporary stay permits for Afghan nationals, including those holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.
The organization estimates that at least 1 million more Afghans could be forced to return in the coming weeks.
“I spoke with families arriving at the border with Iran who were completely exhausted, many with small children and nowhere to go,” said Mohammed Abdiker, IOM’s Chief of Staff, who recently visited western Afghanistan. “We can currently only assist one in ten people who need help. That is a situation no one should face. Afghanistan must not be forgotten.”
Returns from Pakistan surged in April, following a government deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave or face deportation. Simultaneously, returns from Iran also accelerated and continue to rise.
To respond to this growing humanitarian challenge, IOM operates four reception centers at major border crossings—Islam Qala and Milak with Iran, and Torkham and Spin Boldak with Pakistan—alongside four transit centers offering food, temporary shelter, healthcare, psychosocial support, cash aid, and onward transport.
However, the organization warns that existing systems are severely overstretched and at risk of collapse without immediate international support.
Many returnees arrive without documentation, limiting their access to public services and making reintegration into Afghan society increasingly difficult, especially in areas already suffering from limited resources, poor infrastructure, and weak economies.
“These communities already lack basic services and economic opportunities,” said Iori Kato, IOM’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. “Without investment, returnees will struggle to reintegrate, which often leads to renewed displacement. Breaking this cycle requires sustained international engagement.”
The return crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of four years of recurring drought, worsening poverty, and a fragile economic environment. The IOM warns that as winter approaches, humanitarian needs are expected to surge sharply, yet donor funding for Afghanistan remains drastically below required levels.
The organization reiterated that all returns must be safe, voluntary, and dignified, and called for regional cooperation and immediate donor mobilization to avoid a deeper emergency with far-reaching consequences for Afghanistan and the region.
