More than 2.5 million Afghan nationals have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan since 15 September 2023, according to the latest figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), underscoring one of the largest cross-border return movements in the region in recent years.
According to the IOM, cumulative returns had reached 2,507,000 as of 15 June 2026. The data further indicates that 1,652,967 Afghans have returned since 1 April 2025, reflecting a significant acceleration in cross-border movements during the past year.
Among those who returned after 1 April 2025, the IOM reported that 211,674 individuals approximately 13 percent were deported, while the remaining majority returned through other mechanisms.
The organization also highlighted serious protection concerns surrounding the return process. According to survey findings cited by the IOM, 96 percent of interviewed returnees identified fear of arrest as the primary reason for leaving Pakistan, pointing to widespread concerns among Afghan nationals regarding their legal status and personal security.
The scale of the returns is placing considerable pressure on Afghanistan’s already fragile humanitarian and economic conditions. Many returnees are arriving in communities facing limited employment opportunities, strained public services, and ongoing economic hardship, increasing the need for sustained humanitarian assistance and reintegration support.
Humanitarian organizations continue to warn that the large influx of returnees may further intensify existing challenges, including access to shelter, healthcare, education, food security, and livelihood opportunities, particularly in provinces already struggling with limited resources.
The IOM has reiterated the importance of ensuring that all returns are conducted in a safe, orderly, and dignified manner while emphasizing the need for continued international support to address the humanitarian needs of returning Afghan families and host communities.
As cross-border movements continue, humanitarian agencies are closely monitoring the evolving situation and coordinating assistance efforts to support vulnerable returnees and mitigate the growing humanitarian impact across Afghanistan.
