Nearly 270,000 Afghans Return from Pakistan and Iran Amid Regional Tensions, UN Agency Reports

Kathmandu. Approximately 270,000 Afghan citizens have returned to their country from Pakistan and Iran, with 110,000 returning from Iran and 160,000 from Pakistan, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. The agency also warned that this number risks increasing further due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Representatives from the UN Refugee Agency stated that although the returns are organized, they are fraught with tension and concern. In the days following Iran's response with drones and missiles after the United States and Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran starting February 28, approximately 1,700 Afghan citizens have been returning from Iran daily.

The representative warned that Afghanistan is suffering the consequences of events related to Iran, while clashes have also been observed on the border with Pakistan. He added, "The number of returns could increase rapidly as soon as the border crossings open."

The UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF are attempting to strengthen management capacity at the border and internally. However, given the large number of returnees, a warning has been issued that further assistance will be necessary.

In the last two years, more than five lakh Afghan citizens have returned from neighboring countries, with 190,000 returning from Iran in the last year alone.