The most recent developments in the Afghan refugee crisis highlight a significant increase in the number of returnees from Pakistan and Iran, with the UNHCR reporting that nearly 150,000 Afghans have returned in 2026 alone. This surge is part of a larger trend, as noted by Arafat Jamal, UNHCR representative to Afghanistan, who stated that 'since October 2023, we have seen 5.4 million people return to Afghanistan.' The rapid pace of these returns is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, pushing the country 'to the brink,' according to ABC International. The sentiment across multiple sources, including Geo World and AFP News Agency, is predominantly negative, emphasizing the dire situation faced by returnees and the limited capacity of Afghanistan to accommodate them.