The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of Afghanistan has announced the return of 3,255 Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan, both voluntarily and involuntarily. These individuals entered Afghanistan on July 2nd through the border crossings at Islam Qala in Nimruz province, Spin Boldak in Kandahar province, and Torkham in Nangarhar province.
According to the Ministry, 85 families comprising 428 individuals returned from Torkham, 86 families comprising 480 individuals returned from Spin Boldak, and 2,347 individuals returned from Iran through the Islam Qala border crossing. The return of these migrants is part of a larger movement that has seen significant numbers of Afghans returning from neighboring countries.
Several of the returnees have been referred to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for assistance. This support is crucial as many of the returning migrants face a dire humanitarian situation, with a lack of basic amenities and essential support making their reintegration challenging.
The expulsion process of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan is ongoing, drawing significant international reactions. Just a day before this latest announcement, the Ministry reported the return of 2,450 Afghan migrants from the same countries. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has highlighted the magnitude of this migration, noting that approximately 595,000 Afghan migrants returned from Iran and Pakistan from January to the end of May 2024.
This large-scale return of migrants occurs amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The returning migrants often face a lack of basic necessities and essential support, making their transition back into Afghan society extremely difficult. The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, along with international organizations, continues to work towards providing the necessary assistance to these individuals.