450,000 Afghans Return to Afghanistan from Iran in One Month

Kokcha News Agency: The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, has revealed that nearly 450,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from Iran in the past month. This surge in returns comes after the Iranian government set a deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave the country by July 6, 2025 (15 Tir 1404).

According to the IOM, between June 1 and July 5, 2025, a total of 449,218 Afghans crossed the border from Iran to Afghanistan. Since the beginning of 2025, the number of Afghans leaving Iran has exceeded 906,000. The Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province has seen particularly high traffic, with some days recording up to 40,000 crossings.

The mass returns have raised significant humanitarian concerns. Many of the returnees, who had lived in Iran for years, were forced to leave quickly, often without the opportunity to retrieve their savings or belongings. Reports of mistreatment by Iranian authorities have also surfaced, adding to the challenges faced by the migrants.

The UN, international NGOs, and Taliban officials have called for increased resources to support the returning Afghans. Afghanistan, already grappling with chronic poverty, unemployment, and climate-related shocks, is now facing additional strain on its fragile infrastructure.

The UN has warned of an “emergency situation” in border areas, particularly at the Dogharoun-Islam Qala crossing. Concerns have also been raised about the forced return of women and children, with the UN emphasizing that their basic rights and security are at severe risk.

Tajuddin Eivali, a representative of UNICEF in Afghanistan, noted that 25% of the returnees are children, many of whom are crossing the border with minimal resources. Many Afghans are returning without money, housing, or any guarantees for their future, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

This mass exodus follows similar actions by Pakistan, which also expelled a large number of Afghans earlier. The Taliban, who returned to power in 2021, have been striving to project stability, but even their officials acknowledge the mounting pressures caused by the influx of returnees.