IOM: Over 1.6 million Afghan refugees have returned home

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has stated that more than 1.6 million Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland from neighbouring Pakistan since April 2025. Local media outlet TOLOnews, citing the agency’s report, reported on Tuesday (21/7) that a total of 1,692,147 Afghan nationals had returned since 1 April. Fear of arrest remains the primary push factor forcing many to leave, the IOM explained. The IOM stated that since 15 September 2023, a total of 2.5 million Afghan nationals have returned from Pakistan. On Monday (20/7) alone, a total of 3,293 individuals from 616 families returned from Pakistan and Iran, according to the Afghan High Commission for Refugee Affairs. An estimated 6 million Afghan refugees, the majority of whom lack official documentation, currently reside abroad, with most settling in Iran and Pakistan.