Over one million Afghans return from Pakistan in 2025, UN refugee agency says

More than one million Afghans have returned from Pakistan in 2025, the United Nations refugee agency said on Wednesday, as winter sets in and families face harsh conditions across the country.

“In the right circumstances, this would be something to celebrate,” said Philippa Candler, UNHCR Representative in Pakistan. “But under the current conditions, it raises more concerns than solutions.”

Many of the returnees, including women and children, arrive at border crossings cold, exhausted, and in urgent need of assistance. UNHCR and its partners have been scaling up support, providing temporary shelters, relief items, and protection services.

However, with winter intensifying and humanitarian resources stretched thin, the gap between needs and available support is widening. UNHCR warned that without sustained and expanded assistance, the long-term sustainability of returns from both Pakistan and Iran is uncertain, and further displacement may become inevitable.

Afghanistan is facing a severe economic crisis, with nine in ten people living in poverty. Over 2.2 million returnees from Pakistan and Iran arrived in 2025 alone, many with few resources to rebuild their lives, while recent earthquakes have compounded their hardships.

The agency is appealing to governments, individual donors and private partners to raise at least $35 million to deliver life-saving assistance, helping vulnerable families stay safe and warm through the winter months.

UNHCR also highlighted persistent protection needs for Afghans still in Pakistan, particularly those at heightened risk due to their profiles, past affiliations, or vulnerabilities. Many require legal aid, documentation, and community-based protection services to ensure their safety and dignity.

The agency urged the Government of Pakistan to exempt Afghans with specific protection needs from the Illegal Foreigner Repatriation Plan (IFRP) and allow them to remain safely in the country. Such measures, UNHCR said, would uphold Pakistan’s long-standing tradition of hosting and protecting Afghan refugees, which has safeguarded millions over decades.