Six million Afghans have been forced to return to a Taliban-run Afghanistan, according to the BBC, with another million pushed out of Pakistan and Iran in the year to August.
Key facts
- Around six million deportees have been forced to start over under Taliban rule, according to the BBC.
- As of August, the number forced to return this year from Pakistan and Iran had reached another million.
- Some returnees say they have never been to Afghanistan before.
- The returns involve deportations from both Pakistan and Iran.
Millions of Afghans are being forced to rebuild their lives under Taliban rule after being deported from neighbouring countries, according to the BBC. Around six million people have had to start over in Afghanistan, a country some of them say they have never lived in.
The BBC reports that, as of August, the number of people forced to return this year from Pakistan and Iran had reached another million. The figure underscores the continuing scale of returns to a country now governed by the Taliban.
For some of those affected, the return is not a homecoming but an arrival in an unfamiliar place. As one deportee’s account captured in the story’s title puts it, “I’ve never been to Afghanistan” — a reflection of how many Afghans built lives abroad before being sent to a country they do not know.
The deportations span both Pakistan and Iran, two countries that have hosted large Afghan populations. The BBC’s reporting indicates the returns have continued into 2026, adding to a total that has reached the millions.
The scale described by the BBC points to a significant movement of people over a short period, with families required to re-establish homes, work and daily life under Taliban governance.
Why it matters
The forced return of millions of people places enormous strain on individuals and on Afghanistan's capacity to absorb them, particularly for those who have never lived there. It highlights the human consequences of deportation policies in neighbouring countries and the difficult conditions facing returnees under Taliban rule.
Frequently asked questions
How many Afghans have been forced to return?
According to the BBC, around six million deportees have been forced to start over under the Taliban.
How many returned this year?
The BBC reports that, as of August, the number forced to return this year from Pakistan and Iran had reached another million.
Which countries are deporting Afghans?
The returns described by the BBC involve deportations from both Pakistan and Iran.