Afghan refugees
Afghan refugees are citizens of Afghanistan who were forced to flee from their country as a result the continuous wars that the country has suffered since the Afghan-Soviet war, the Afghan civil war, the Afghanistan war or either political or religious persecution. As of 2023, there were 3.2 million internally displaced Afghans, and 6.4 million Afghan refugees living in other countries which is one of largest refugee populations in the world.
The 1978 Saur Revolution, followed by the 1979 Soviet invasion, marked the first major wave of internal displacement and international migration to neighboring Iran and Pakistan; smaller numbers also went to India or to countries of the former Soviet Union. Nearly 90% of the world’s 6.1 million Afghan refugees reside in neighboring Iran and Pakistan, with Iran hosting the largest share as of 2024. Between 1979 and 1992, more than 20% of Afghanistan's population fled the country as refugees. Following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, many returned to Afghanistan, however many Afghans were again forced to flee during the civil war in the 90s. A total of 6.3 million Afghan refugees were living in Pakistan and Iran in 1990.
There were over 6 million Afghan refugees by 2000. Most refugees returned to Afghanistan following the 2001 United States invasion and overthrow of the Taliban regime. Between 2002 and 2012, 5.7 million refugees returned to Afghanistan, increasing the country's population by 25%. Between 2012 and 2019, 2.4 million Afghans fled the country as refugees. At the time of Taliban's return to power in 2021, 2.6 million Afghans remained refugees.
Some countries that were part of the International Security Assistance Force established special programs to allow thousands of Afghans to resettle in the Western world. As stateless refugees or asylum seekers, they are protected by the well-established non-refoulement principle and the U.N. Convention Against Torture. They receive the maximum government benefits and protections in countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For example, those that receive green cards under can immediately become "non-citizen nationals of the United States" pursuant to, without needing to meet the requirements of. This allows them to travel with distinct United States passports. Australia provides a similar benefit to admitted refugees. Following the Iran-Israel War, Iran began the 2025 Afghan deportation from Iran which according to sources will add up to 4 million Afghans.
Internal displacement
According to the International Organization for Migration, there are over five million internally displaced people in Afghanistan as of late 2021. Military actions and violence by the warring factions usually play a major part in the displacement, although there are also reasons of major natural disasters. The Soviet invasion caused approximately 2 million Afghans to be internally displaced, mostly from rural areas into urban areas. The Afghan Civil War caused a new wave of internal displacement, with many citizens moving to northern areas in order to avoid the Taliban totalitarianism. Afghanistan has long suffered from insecurity and conflict, which has led to an increase in internal displacement.Causes of displacement
External influence over the past 50 years by both the Soviet Union and later the United States, along with actions of the currently ruling Taliban regime, have led to continued trends of displacement.United States War in Afghanistan
The American invasion of Afghanistan has contributed to the displacement of Afghan nationals. While many justifications were given for the invasion of Afghanistan, the war has led to both internal and external displacement of the Afghan population. According to the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, the American bombing of Afghanistan was not seen locally as "salvation," but instead caused fear that the American military would confuse civilians with members of the Taliban.On the other hand, following the 2001 invasion and otherthrow of the Taliban, millions of Afghan refugees returned to the country. By 2012, 5.7 million had returned, increasing the population of Afghanistan by 25%.
Major host countries
Native people of Afghanistan and their children lawfully reside in at least 96 countries around the world. About three in four Afghans have gone through internal and/or external displacement in their life. Unlike in certain other countries, all admitted refugees and those granted asylum in the United States are statutorily eligible for permanent residency and then U.S. nationality or U.S. citizenship. All of their children automatically become Americans if they fulfill all of the requirements of, or. This extends their privileges, and gives all of them additional international protection against any unlawful threat or harm.Pakistan
Approximately 1,438,432 registered Afghan refugees and asylum seekers temporarily reside in Pakistan under the care and protection of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Of these, 58.1% reside and work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22.8% in Balochistan, 11.7% in Punjab, 4.6% in Sindh, 2.4% in the capital Islamabad and 0.3% in Azad Kashmir. Most were born and raised in Pakistan in the last four decades but are considered citizens of Afghanistan. They are free to return to Afghanistan under a voluntary repatriation program or move to any other country of the world and be firmly resettled there. The largest ever Afghan refugee camp was established in the Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the north-west of the country.Since 2002, around 4.4 million Afghan citizens have been repatriated through the UNHCR from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Some members of the Taliban and their family have long been residing among the Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Others such as the Special Immigrant Visa applicants and their family members, who are awaiting to be firmly settled in the United States, are also residing in Pakistan. Regarding the Taliban, Prime Minister of Pakistan stated the following:
On 3 October 2023, Pakistan's Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti ordered that all undocumented immigrants, particularly the nearly 1.73 million Afghan nationals, voluntarily leave the country by 1 November 2023 or face deportation in a crackdown. Taliban authorities condemned the deportations of Afghans as an "inhuman act."
As of 2 April 2025, Pakistan plans to initiate arrests and deportations of Afghans living in Pakistan illegally and Afghans holding Afghan Citizen Cards on 10 April 2025. Afghans with Proof of Registration can stay in Pakistan until 30 June 2025.
Iran
As of October 2020, there are 780,000 registered Afghan refugees and asylum seekers temporarily residing in Iran under the care and protection of the UNHCR. The majority of them were born in Iran during the last four decades but are still considered citizens of Afghanistan. According to Iranian officials, 2 million citizens of Afghanistan who have no legal documents and over half a million Iranian visa holders also reside in various parts of the country. Iran has long been used by Afghans to reach Turkey and then Europe where they apply for political asylum. As in Pakistan, the Afghan refugees are not firmly settled but reside there on a temporary basis.Iran's initial response towards Afghan refugees, driven by religious solidarity, was an open door policy where Afghans in Iran had freedom of movement to travel or work in any city in addition to subsidies for propane, gasoline, certain food items and even health coverage. In the early 2000s, Iran's Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs initiated registration of all foreigners, including refugees. It began issuing temporary residence cards to certain Afghans. In 2000, the Iranian government also initiated a joint repatriation program with the UNHCR. Laws were passed in order to encourage the repatriation of Afghan refugees, such as limits on employment, areas of residence, and access to services including education. In 2021, the International Organization for Migration found that just over one million Afghans have been sent back. In 2023, Iran along with Pakistan decided to deport more refugees. In May 2025, the Iranian government ordered the mass deportation of an estimated 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees.
India
India hosts approximately 49,059 Afghan refugees within its borders. The majority of them reside in the nation's capital Delhi, specifically in the neighborhoods of Lajpat Nagar, Bhogal and Malviya Nagar. Some of them operate "shops, restaurants and pharmacies." Afghan refugees were admitted to India during and after the Soviet–Afghan War. A lot of the once-vibrant Sikhs in Afghanistan and Afghan Hindus have become refugees in India following the wars. Also much of Afghanistan's Christian community thrives within India. In 2021, following the end of the latest war in Afghanistan, India has offered an emergency visa to some citizens of Afghanistan.Afghan refugees in India have sought asylum primarily due to political instability and conflict in Afghanistan. India hosts thousands of Afghan refugees, many of whom are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. While India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has provided long-term visas and access to education and healthcare for Afghan refugees. The Indian government has also pledged material support for the rehabilitation of returning Afghan refugees. However, challenges remain, including legal uncertainty, lack of official refugee status, and limited access to employment opportunities. Despite these hurdles, Afghan refugees continue to integrate into Indian society, particularly in cities like Delhi, where a significant number reside.