Nearly 1.5 million Afghans have been deported or forcibly returned from Iran this year. We traveled to the border to document one of worst displacement crisis the region has witnessed lately. 📸 @jimhuylebroek
Some 20,000 people are crossing this border post in northwestern Afghanistan every day. Many spent decades outside Afghanistan or never even lived there.
Iran is now clamping down on undocumented Afghans, who are coming back to a country already grappling with devastating economic and humanitarian crises.
Inside Iran, Afghans have told my colleague @farnazfassihi how they’ve lived in fear since hate crimes have shot up — insults on the subway, assaults on the streets, discrimination in shops and pharmacies.
What this influx of returns means for Afghanistan — whether a country with such a struggling economy can absorb so many returnees — is keeping so many alarmed here. Returning Afghans are very much aware of the lack of opportunities they’re coming back to. 📸 @jimhuylebroek
You can read our main story on the displacement crisis here: nytimes.com/2025/07/16/wor…
We’re looking to speak with more Afghan nationals who have returned to Afghanistan from Iran. Please reach out. 📩 nytimes.com/by/elian-pelti…
Many women and girls returning from Afghanistan will face some of the world’s most severe restrictions. We have a story on what this means for them nytimes.com/2025/07/16/wor…
Video explainer: Why have nearly 1.5 million Afghans been expelled from Iran nytimes.com/video/world/mi…