Pakistan, July 15 -- ISLAMABAD - The United Nations has raised concerns over the overwhelming pace at which Afghans are returning from Iran, saying it is straining Afghanistan's already fragile support systems. So far in 2025, more than 1.4 million Afghans have returned, with over 1 million coming from Iran alone.

The returns increased sharply after Iran's March 20 deadline ordering all undocumented Afghans to leave. On June 25, over 28,000 people crossed back into Afghanistan in a single day, according to UN data. Many were forced to leave abruptly, often without their belongings or proper documentation.

Roza Otunbayeva, the UN's special representative for Afghanistan, visited the Islam Qala crossing in Herat and urged the internationa...