Over 2 Million Afghans Deported from Iran, Pakistan Amid Rising Hardship

In 2025, Iran has forcibly deported over 1.4 million Afghan migrants, with Pakistan also returning over 300,000, as part of a large-scale campaign citing national security concerns. Many deported Afghans, who had worked for years in sectors like agriculture and construction in Iran, now face dire conditions and insecurity upon their return to Afghanistan, where the Taliban government imposes severe restrictions, especially on women. Afghan refugees in Iran, some born and raised there, live in fear of arbitrary arrest and deportation despite decades-long residence and contributions to the Iranian economy. Iran's actions follow a period of heightened tension after a conflict with Israel, and the government has increasingly portrayed Afghan migrants as security risks, even seeking intelligence on those affiliated with Western forces. Humanitarian agencies report critical underfunding for Afghanistan amid this refugee crisis, while activists call for ending the repression of Afghan refugees. The situation is particularly dire for deported Afghan women, many of whom face gender-based restrictions and threats in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, exacerbating poverty and vulnerability.