Two Asian countries are believed to have deported 4.5million Afghan migrants as hostile sentiment grows. The UN reported in July that more than 300,000 people have returned from Pakistan and over 1.5million from Iran, including 410,000 who were deported from Iran since June 24. Officials said at the time: “The scale is staggering: more than 1.9million Afghans have returned or been forced to return to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan so far in 2025.” Now, it is thought that one million have been ousted from Pakistan, with the country claiming it cannot accommodate the refugee community any longer.

Altogether, it is thought that Iran and Pakistan have ousted around 4.5million in total amid economic difficulties and xenophobic rhetoric – 2.5m this year alone. More than 1,000 people were deported from Pakistan in just 24 hours, days after new military clashes erupted at the border between the two countries. Five people died after heavy fire was exchanged, according to the Taliban.

The UN added in the summer: “Returns must be halted immediately. Afghanistan is not a safe country for returnees, given the constantly deteriorating human rights situation since the Taliban seized control, nearly four years ago.”

“Those forced to return have genuine fears for their safety and security and face very real risks of persecution, threats, and violent reprisals.”

Over the decades, Afghans have been increasingly portrayed as “criminals,” “drug peddlers” and “terrorists” after they were welcomed into Pakistan as “holy warriors” and “Islamic brethren” following the Soviet invasion of their homeland, The New York Times reports.

Ziaullah, 51, an Afghan returnee at the Torkham border with Pakistan, told Islamic Relief in September: “I’m originally from Kunduz province (in northern Afghanistan) and I’m travelling back there, but I don’t have a place to stay. I was at home [in Pakistan] when announcements were made in the mosques at night telling us to return to our own country.

“I had to quickly gather all I could. In very difficult conditions and at high cost I managed to find a truck to carry our possessions. Now I’m staying at the Torkham temporary camp (at the border crossing) and I’m confused, not knowing where to go next.

“It has been very difficult. We are in a poor condition — we left most of our property behind in Pakistan. We have no proper shelter, not enough food, and no clear idea about our future. My family is tired and worried, especially the children and elderly. I don’t know about Afghanistan; I’m not sure if I will find work there.

“I don’t feel at peace. All my children were born in Pakistan, and now I don’t know if there will be opportunities for education and shelter here.”

In recent times, Afghans have also settled in Britain.

Government figures showed in November that the number of people resettled in the UK under humanitarian schemes fell by more than a quarter year-on-year.

A total of 7,271 people were resettled in the year ending September 2025, down 26% from 9,872 in the 12 months to September 2024.

The vast majority (89% or 6,437 people) of those resettled in the latest year arrived through the Afghan Resettlement Programme schemes, although these were closed to new applicants in July.

The number of people granted Refugee Family Reunion visas reached a record high of 20,876, the latest figures also showed.

This was a rise of 11% from 18,837 of these visas granted in the previous 12 months.

It comes as an Afghan man has been remanded into custody in the UK after appearing in court accused of the rape of two 14-year-old girls.

Sultani Bakatash, 28, is alleged to have sexually assaulted the girls in a flat in Bolton, Greater Manchester on Saturday.

He appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday, following the brief hearing via an interpreter of the Dari language, spoken in Afghanistan.

The court heard Bakatash has been in the UK for two years and has been granted indefinite leave to remain, with his mother, two brothers and two sisters also living in Britain.