Over 160,000 Afghan Migrants Return from Pakistan Since Start of Solar Year Amid Border Clashes, UN Says
The United Nations reports that more than 160,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Pakistan since the beginning of the current solar year, amid ongoing border tensions.
According to Amu TV, citing UN and UNICEF data, clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan since late February have killed or injured at least 289 civilians, including 76 deaths, with over half being women and children. The violence has displaced about 115,000 people and damaged infrastructure. These events have exacerbated Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis, where 21.9 million people, including 11.6 million children, will need assistance in 2026.
Pakistani officials, cited by Ariana News, state that more than 2.13 million undocumented Afghan citizens have been returned from Pakistan overall, including over 150,000 from Punjab province amid inspections and detentions for illegal residence. Hundreds of Afghans remain in temporary centers in Punjab.
Reports differ on the status of the Torkham border: Amu TV indicates its reopening is accelerating returns, while Ariana News says it was briefly reopened on 6 Hamal but closed again. Both Torkham and Chaman borders are involved in the migrant returns.
The large-scale returns and border tensions highlight ongoing displacement and humanitarian pressures on Afghanistan.
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Where reports agree
- Ongoing large-scale return of Afghan migrants from Pakistan
- Torkham and Chaman borders involved in migrant returns
- Tensions and clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan contributing to returns and displacement
Where reports differ
- Scale of migrant returns: 160,000 since solar year start (UN via Amu TV) vs. over 2.13 million total (Pakistani officials via Ariana News)
- Torkham border status: reopened accelerating returns (Amu TV) vs. closed again after brief opening (Ariana News)
- Casualty and displacement figures from border clashes reported only by Amu TV
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