KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – More than 4,300 Afghan nationals returned from Pakistan and Iran in a single day on Wednesday, Taliban authorities said, as deportations from both countries persist amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s commission for refugee affairs reported that 3,918 Afghans returned from Pakistan, mainly through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings. An additional 449 were deported from Iran via the Pul-e Abresham and Islam Qala points.
Afghanistan has experienced a surge in returns in recent months, driven largely by Pakistan’s intensified enforcement against undocumented Afghan nationals. According to UN figures, more than 5 million Afghans have returned or been deported from Pakistan and Iran combined, including around 2.9 million in 2025 alone.
The large-scale returns coincide with a deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where the UN estimates that over half the population, nearly 22 million people, requires assistance in 2026. Taliban restrictions on women and girls continue to restrict access to education, healthcare, and other services.
Human rights and humanitarian organizations have criticized the deportations, warning that the rapid influx exacerbates food insecurity, health challenges, and shelter shortages for returnees. Aid groups and UN bodies have urged international support to address the needs of those returning.
