According to the latest figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 1.07 million cross-border movements between Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan were recorded between April and June 2026.
The majority of these movements involved people entering Afghanistan. Overall, four out of every five cross-border movements were made for the purpose of entering Afghanistan.
According to the organization’s data, 866,579 people entered Afghanistan during the second quarter of 2026, of whom 68 percent approximately 586,500 people were returning Afghans.
According to the report, 56 percent of those who entered Afghanistan from Iran said they had been deported from the country. Meanwhile, 66 percent of those arriving from Pakistan said they had returned to Afghanistan due to insecurity and pressure.
During the same period, IOM data showed that 65 percent of Afghans traveling to Iran cited finding employment as the primary reason for their journey, while 55 percent of Afghans traveling to Pakistan said they had gone there to seek medical treatment.
The share of returning Afghans in cross-border movements involving Afghanistan is increasing as pressure on Afghan refugees and migrants in neighboring countries continues.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
