The Global Jigsaw - Afghan refugees: Back to zero

Download Afghan refugees: Back to zero

Why are millions of Afghans pushed into circular migration and what awaits them in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan? In this series, we explore one of the world’s largest and longest-running refugee crises - a story spanning decades and affecting nearly half of Afghanistan’s population. Once welcomed as guests and embraced in the spirit of Islamic solidarity in neighbouring Iran and Pakistan, Afghan refugees now find themselves facing restrictions, discrimination and deportation. In part three, we try to understand the reality awaiting the returnees amid the information black hole surrounding their story back home.

Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk

Contributors: Haroon Rahmani, Lyse Doucet
Producer: Kriszta Satori, Barry Sadid, Elchin Suleymanov
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham

Published on Thursday, 5th November 2026.

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