More than 800 Afghan families return from Pakistan and Iran in two days

More than 800 Afghan families returned from Pakistan and Iran over two days as Afghan authorities continued receiving thousands of people arriving through deportations and voluntary returns from neighbouring countries.

Families arrive through key border crossings

The Secretariat of the High Commission for Addressing Returnees’ Issues said 807 families, comprising 4,209 people, entered Afghanistan on 2 and 3 August through the Torkham, Spin Boldak and Islam Qala border crossings.

Describing the assistance provided, the commission said, “Afghan returnees who were forcibly repatriated through various entry points received essential services in the areas of registration, transportation, financial assistance, healthcare, and public awareness.”

The latest arrivals form part of a much larger movement that has accelerated since Pakistan and Iran stepped up efforts to repatriate undocumented Afghans. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), about 6.04 million Afghans returned from the two neighbouring countries between mid-September 2023 and 30 May 2026.

Families moved to provinces

The commission said most families did not remain at the border reception centres. Instead, they were transported to provinces including Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Kabul. During the two-day period, authorities relocated 562 families, comprising 3,165 people.

The reports do not specify whether the families ultimately returned to their original towns and villages. However, authorities said they are continuing a permanent settlement programme alongside the relocations.

• More than 800 Afghan migrants return after release from Pakistan prisons
• Afghan refugees avoid healthcare in Pakistan over deportation fears, MSF warns
• ‘UN spent $2.5bn on Afghan refugee needs this year,’ UNAMA says

Land and financial support

On 3 August, the Permanent Settlement and Land Allocation Committee allocated residential land plots to 1,163 families in Nangarhar, Faryab, Bamyan, Nimroz and Paktika.

The committee said, “The cumulative number of residential land plots distributed to date has reached 65,155, and the process is ongoing.”

According to the official reports, authorities distributed AFN 5.686 million (about USD 86,200) in direct financial assistance and AFN 2.578 million (about USD 39,100) to cover transport costs on 2 and 3 August. The reports do not provide a cumulative figure for spending since the repatriation programme began.

Tags

Pakistan Afghanistan Refugees Torkham border Deportation