Afghanistan and IOM discuss refugee return support as Pakistan issues 31 august deadline

Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs met with senior migration officials in Kabul to address the escalating return of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries, amid Pakistan’s deadline for registered refugees to leave by the end of August.

Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi met with Mohammed Abdiker, Chief of Staff at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to explore ways of expanding humanitarian cooperation and improving assistance for returnees.

According to the Afghan government’s media office, both sides emphasised the importance of long-term coordination and international support to manage the growing influx of returnees and the strain on local infrastructure.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that 2.1 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since 1 January 2025, with more than 1.4 million returning from Iran and over 303,000 from Pakistan between April and the end of July.

UNHCR stated that many Afghan returnees from Iran reported discrimination, harassment and unpaid wages, raising concerns about reintegration and protection upon return.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has given registered Afghan refugees until 31 August to leave the country. According to UNHCR, around 1.5 million Afghan refugees are currently registered in Pakistan under the Proof of Registration (PoR) scheme. Their registration cards expired at the end of June 2025, leaving them at risk of deportation.

The IOM has not released a statement following the meeting, but it has previously highlighted the urgent need for sustainable reintegration programmes and increased funding for Afghanistan’s humanitarian response.

Aid organisations have warned that the rapid increase in returns is placing additional pressure on already fragile public services. According to UN data, more than 23 million people in Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2025.

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