UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the return of Afghan migrants from Pakistan to take place only on a voluntary, safe and dignified basis.
Speaking on Tuesday at a joint press conference in Islamabad with Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Guterres said the United Nations was committed to working with Pakistan to uphold protection principles throughout the return process.
Guterres, who headed the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) for ten years before becoming secretary-general, thanked Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghans who fled war and instability over several decades. He said communities across the country had shared whatever they had with people looking for safety.
His comments come as returns and deportations of Afghans from Pakistan continue. Pakistan launched its so-called Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan in late 2023. Pakistani officials say about 2.4 million Afghans have since returned or been deported, while UNHCR figures show more than 1.15 million returned from Pakistan in 2025 alone. According to the UN, more than 6.4 million Afghans have come back from Pakistan and Iran over the past three years.
During the same visit, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told Guterres that armed groups based in Afghanistan were still targeting Pakistan and that Afghan territory must not be used for attacks on any country. ا.ا.ا have repeatedly rejected such accusations. Zardari also presented Guterres with the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan's highest civilian awards.
Aid agencies and rights groups warn that many returnees face shortages of food, shelter, healthcare and other basic services once back in Afghanistan.
Source: KabulNow, Ariana News, Afghanistan International
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