Havoc on Afghan refugees, people forcibly expelled from Pakistan-Iran on a large scale, UNHCR expressed concern

Pakistan Afghanistan Tension: There is a tense situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan and its direct impact is on the Afghan refugees. A large number of Afghan citizens are being forcibly sent back to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran. According to Afghan officials, more than 10,000 Afghan refugees have been expelled from these two countries in the last two days alone.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the interim government of Afghanistan, shared a report of the High Commission for Migrant Affairs on the social media platform X. He said that a total of 1,939 Afghan families returned to Afghanistan on Thursday and Friday. These families included a total of 10,043 people who were forcibly expelled from Pakistan and Iran.

Sudden increase in traffic in these areas

According to reports, the returning refugees entered the country through Afghanistan’s major border routes. These include Islam Qala in Herat province, Pul-e-Abresham in Nimroz, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Bahramcha in Helmand and Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar. Due to the sudden increase in movement in these areas, the pressure on the local administration and humanitarian agencies has increased.

Fitrat was quoted by Zhavok Afghan News as saying that 1,464 returnee refugee families, comprising 8,140 people, have been sent to their native areas. Apart from this, immediate humanitarian assistance was provided to 1,279 families. With the support of the government and relief agencies, the returnees are being provided food, temporary shelter and basic amenities.

Fitrat also informed that with the help of telecommunication companies, a total of 1,626 SIM cards were distributed to the returned refugees so that they could contact their families.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees expressed concern

According to Afghan officials, this trend has not stopped here. Only last Wednesday, Pakistani and Iranian authorities forcibly sent back about 2,300 Afghan refugees. Earlier in the beginning of November also, a large number of Afghans were expelled from these two countries.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern over this situation. According to UNHCR, Pakistan has detained a record number of Afghan migrants in the year 2025. The highest number of arrests have been recorded in Balochistan and Punjab provinces. According to the Afghan news agency Khaama Press, a recent report by UNHCR said that the maximum number of Afghans were detained in Chagai and Quetta districts of Balochistan and Attock district of Punjab.

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The report also revealed that between January 1 and November 2025, Pakistani authorities arrested 100,971 Afghan citizens. This figure is several times higher than the approximately 9,000 arrests in 2024 and 26,000 arrests in 2023. Experts believe that increased arrests and forced expulsions could threaten regional stability as well as lead to a serious humanitarian crisis.