Over 1.6 Million Afghans Seek Refuge in Iran and Pakistan Since 2021

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that over 1.6 million Afghans have fled to Iran and Pakistan since 2021 due to ongoing instability, Amu TV reported yesterday.

These two countries now host a combined Afghan population exceeding eight million, making Afghans the largest refugee group globally, surpassing Syrians.

In the first half of 2024, more than 156,000 Afghans returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan accommodates approximately 1.3 million Afghan refugees, along with an additional 1.5 million Afghan nationals of various statuses. However, a new policy introduced in 2023, the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,” has pressured many undocumented Afghans to return home, with about 647,000 having left under duress.

Meanwhile, Iran has emerged as the largest refugee-hosting nation worldwide, with at least 3.8 million refugees, including over one million Afghans who arrived since 2021. Concerns persist regarding the treatment of Afghan migrants in both countries.