Afghan migrants in Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey faced serious challenges in the solar year 1403. 

These migrants experienced mistreatment, forced deportation, attacks, and severe restrictions on access to certain services.

These challenges sparked growing concerns among migrants, prompting international organizations and the Islamic Emirate to work on solutions for their safe and legal return.

In 1403, Pakistan intensified its second round of Afghan migrant expulsions. On the first of Hoot (solar year), the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad announced that Pakistan had decided to deport all Afghan migrants, including those holding Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) and POR (Proof of Registration) cards, from across the country, especially from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Subsequently, on the 18th of Hoot, Pakistan's Ministry of Interior stated that Afghan migrants must leave Pakistan by March 31 of the current year.

Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, Chargé d'affaires of the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad, said about this move: “Pakistani authorities have stated that Afghans can only reside in the country with a visa, and ACC and POR cards are no longer valid.”

This decision led to further concerns, prompting many Afghan migrants in Pakistan to protest.

Afghan migrants in Iran were not free from challenges either. Conditions for them worsened in 1403. Starting from the 1st of Hamal 1404 (March 21, 2025), undocumented Afghan asylum seekers in Iran were denied access to health, education, and other services. This policy increased concerns among Afghan migrants in Iran.

On the 7th of Dalwa 1403, Iran’s foreign minister visited Afghanistan with a delegation and discussed the situation of Afghan migrants with the officials of the Islamic Emirate.

A delegation from the Supreme Court of the Islamic Emirate also visited Iran that year to discuss alternative punishments to the death penalty for Afghans with Iranian judicial authorities.

Abdul Rahim Rashid, head of media and foreign relations of the Supreme Court, said about the trip: “Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, pledged to treat Afghan migrants well and uphold their rights. Additionally, 1,500 Afghan prisoners will be repatriated soon.”

Zahir Bahand, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, told TOLOnews in Jadi about the mistreatment of Afghan migrants in Pakistan: “In the past three days, hundreds of Afghan asylum seekers have been arrested by Pakistani police and transferred to deportation centers.”

 “No help is provided to Afghans, and no one is aware of our problems,” said Akbar Soltani, an Afghan migrant in Iran.

Such statements reflect the harsh and unbearable conditions faced by Afghan migrants in these countries. Moreover, Afghans with US immigration cases also faced increased concerns after President Trump's order suspending the refugee program. In Pakistan, these individuals held protests demanding the resumption of the refugee acceptance process.

Raiessa, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan with a US immigration case, said at a gathering: “We call on President Trump and the US Secretary of State to restart our relocation process.”

An attack on Afghan migrants in Iran also occurred this year. On the 25th of Mizan, Afghan migrants at the Iranian border in Kalgan, Saravan center, were attacked by Iranian border guards, resulting in several deaths and injuries. Initially, Iranian authorities denied the incident, but the Islamic Emirate, after necessary investigations, confirmed that two people were killed and 34 others injured.

 “Following this tragic incident, two martyrs and 34 eyewitnesses, some of whom are injured, were transferred by the delegation,” said Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate.

Despite numerous challenges, many Afghan migrants decided to return to their homeland due to the harsh conditions in host countries. According to the Refugee Committee, more than 2.1 million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan over the past year.

On the 16th of Jadi 1403, the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing announced that 28,116 acres of land have been designated in nine provinces for returnees, and once the survey is complete, the process of building townships for them will begin.

With increasing mistreatment and intensified deportations of Afghan migrants from host countries, international organizations, including the UNHCR, have called for humane and respectful treatment of Afghan migrants.

Arafat Jamal, head of UNHCR, told TOLOnews on the 11th of Jadi: “Our first message is to Pakistan and Iran, which is that you have been such generous hosts for 45 years. Please don’t stop right away; you must treat the Afghans with dignity and allow them to return safely and voluntarily.”

According to the latest statistics from the UNHCR, more than 2.1 million Afghans returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan over the past year. Although 1403 was a challenging and unprecedented year for Afghan migrants in various countries, it remains to be seen whether these challenges will be resolved in the coming year.