Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on the occasion of World Refugee Day that ensuring the protection, dignity, and safe return of refugees is the shared responsibility of the international community.
He said that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees since the events of 1979 and has provided them with its facilities despite economic challenges.
According to him, the phased and “dignity-based” return process of Afghan refugees began in September 2023, and by June 2026, more than 2.4 million Afghans had returned to their country.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan emphasized that peace, stability, and economic growth in Afghanistan are essential conditions for the sustainable return of refugees, and the cooperation of international institutions in this regard is of particular importance.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has announced that more than 2.9 million Afghans have returned to the country in 2025, with a large portion of these returns taking place under difficult and stressful conditions.
