Iran and Pakistan, among the world’s top refugee-hosting nations, are now leading large-scale forced repatriation of Afghan nationals. This policy shift, unfolding since early 2023, has resulted in hundreds of thousands being sent back to Afghanistan under dire conditions.
According to UNHCR, Pakistan currently hosts 1.75 million Afghan refugees, while Iran shelters approximately 3.47 million. Despite both countries grappling with their own economic challenges, they are now enforcing strict repatriation programs that include deportations, particularly targeting undocumented Afghans.
Pakistan and Iran Tighten Measures
On 7 March 2025, Pakistan publicly resumed its “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” (IFRP), announcing that all Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC) holders must leave the country by 1 April 2025. The move came after an earlier crackdown in late 2023, which triggered significant returns.
Meanwhile, Iran initiated a separate repatriation scheme following the expiry of temporary “headcount slips” on 20 March. The program affected two million Afghans, with the Iranian government setting a return deadline of 6 July 2025. Failure to comply results in deportation.
Both governments cite legal and security concerns. However, humanitarian agencies argue these policies ignore the worsening conditions inside Afghanistan.
Humanitarian Strain in Afghanistan
The impact of these repatriation waves has severely strained Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure. Services in health, shelter, and education remain under-resourced. Reintegration capacity is already overstretched, while new arrivals face limited access to support.
Women and girls are especially vulnerable. UNHCR warns that the human rights situation in Afghanistan makes many returnees—regardless of legal status—susceptible to serious protection risks, including abuse, forced marriage, and gender-based violence.
In many cases, families returning from Iran and Pakistan face renewed displacement within Afghanistan or attempt re-crossings into neighboring countries. This cycle of return and displacement exacerbates regional instability.
UNHCR has launched an emergency appeal to support Afghan returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). They stress the need for international cooperation, urging host countries to consider protection needs over political pressures.
As these mass movements continue, the long-term consequences remain deeply concerning. Without sustainable reintegration plans, forced repatriation risks pushing Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis beyond recovery.
