Over 2,200 Afghans return from Pakistan, Iran in single day
Synopsis
In a single day, more than 2,200 Afghans returned home from Pakistan and Iran — a snapshot of a deepening crisis. With Amnesty International warning of unlawful expulsions and the UN calling for dignified returns, Afghanistan's overstretched resettlement system is absorbing thousands weekly as neighbouring countries accelerate deportations.
Key Takeaways
460 Afghan families comprising 2,292 individuals returned from Iran and Pakistan in a single day on 6 August .
The Torkham crossing recorded the highest inflow — 372 families ( 1,947 people ).
398 families ( 2,213 individuals ) were relocated to provinces across Afghanistan; 466 families received financial assistance.
Amnesty International on 20 June urged a halt to what it called unlawful expulsions, citing arbitrary arrests and family separations in host countries.
UNHCR and IOM have repeatedly called for returns to be conducted in a safe and dignified manner with greater international support.
A total of 460 Afghan families, comprising 2,292 individuals, returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan in a single day, Taliban Deputy Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat announced on Thursday, 6 August. Fitrat shared a daily operational report from the High Commission for Addressing Returnees' Issues on social media platform X, providing a crossing-by-crossing breakdown of the returns.
Crossing-by-Crossing Breakdown
The largest share of returnees entered through the Torkham crossing, where 372 families comprising 1,947 people made their way back. At the Spin Boldak crossing, 17 families totalling 85 individuals returned, while 66 families — 239 individuals — crossed via the Silk Bridge crossing in Nimroz province. An additional five families, comprising 21 individuals, returned through the Islam Qala crossing.
Resettlement and Assistance Provided
According to the report, 398 families comprising 2,213 individuals were relocated to various provinces across Afghanistan. The commission also provided financial assistance to 466 families and distributed 395 SIM cards to Afghan returnees to help them re-establish communication links.
Human Rights Concerns Over Afghan Expulsions
The scale of returns comes against a backdrop of mounting concern from international rights bodies. On 20 June, Amnesty International urged the global community to halt what it described as unlawful expulsions of Afghan refugees, calling for their protection under international human rights law.
'Millions of Afghan refugees are being expelled across the globe, and that number keeps climbing day by day. In host countries, they are facing arbitrary arrests and family separations; upon return, they are facing human rights violations amidst one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world,' Amnesty International said in a post on X.
'The unlawful expulsions of Afghan people must stop, and people with international protection needs must be safeguarded as per international human rights law,' the organisation added.
UN Agencies Call for Safe, Dignified Returns
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have both repeatedly called for Afghan refugee returns to be conducted in a safe and dignified manner. Both agencies have urged greater international support for returnees, noting that Afghanistan remains one of the world's most severe humanitarian emergencies. This comes amid a sustained increase in deportations from neighbouring nations, a trend that international agencies say shows no sign of abating.
With returns accelerating and resettlement infrastructure under strain, the pressure on Afghanistan's already fragile support systems is expected to intensify in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
213 relocated — signals that resettlement is outpacing support. Amnesty International's warning about unlawful expulsions has gone largely unheeded by Pakistan and Iran, both of which face their own domestic pressures. The UNHCR and IOM calls for 'safe and dignified' returns risk becoming diplomatic boilerplate unless backed by concrete funding commitments from the international community.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Afghans returned home on 6 August 2025?
A total of 2,292 Afghans from 460 families returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan in a single day on 6 August, according to a report shared by Taliban Deputy Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat on X.
Which border crossings were used for the returns?
Returns were recorded at four crossings: Torkham (1,947 people), Silk Bridge in Nimroz province (239 people), Spin Boldak (85 people), and Islam Qala (21 people). Torkham accounted for the largest share of returnees.
What assistance did returning Afghan families receive?
According to the Taliban's operational report, 466 families received financial assistance and 395 SIM cards were distributed to returnees. A total of 398 families were relocated to various provinces across Afghanistan.
What has Amnesty International said about Afghan refugee expulsions?
On 20 June, Amnesty International urged the international community to stop what it described as unlawful expulsions of Afghan refugees. The organisation said returnees face human rights violations in Afghanistan and that refugees in host countries face arbitrary arrests and family separations.
What is the UN's position on Afghan refugee returns?
Both the UNHCR and the IOM have repeatedly called for Afghan refugee returns to be conducted in a safe and dignified manner. They have also called for greater international support for returnees, citing Afghanistan's severe humanitarian crisis.
