Six million forced to return to Afghanistan since 2023

Six million forced to return to Afghanistan since 2023

Author: BBC World Service September 1, 2026 Duration: 42:03

Millions of Afghans have in recent decades fled across the borders to Pakistan and Iran, seeking refuge or employment. But as the numbers leaving Afghanistan have risen, especially since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, so have deportation efforts by Pakistan and Iran. We have a special report by the BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, who has been to the main border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Also in the programme: as a new law comes into force in Austria banning girls under the age of 14 from wearing a headscarf in schools, we hear from the government, and a critic of the ban; shares in the ultra-fast-fashion giant Shein have plunged on their first day of public trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; and the population of New Zealand’s critically endangered flightless parrot, the kākāpō, has surpassed 300 birds for the first time in decades.

(Photo: Trucks carrying returnees parked along the highway near the Torkham border crossing, October 2025. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)


Each day, the team at the BBC World Service brings the world into focus with Newshour. This isn't just a summary of headlines; it's a deep, considered exploration of the events shaping our moment, built on the BBC's global network of correspondents and reporters. You'll hear from the people making the news and those affected by it, with conversations that provide essential context and challenge assumptions. The analysis goes beyond the surface, unpacking the political, social, and human dimensions of stories from every continent. Tuning into this daily podcast means joining a thorough, informed examination of international affairs, where complex issues are given the time and clarity they demand. It's a reliable, authoritative source for anyone looking to understand not just what is happening around the globe, but why it matters. The pace and depth are designed for listeners who want to move past the soundbite and grasp the interconnected narratives defining our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Newshour
Podcast Episodes
China: 'critical stage' after deadly Nepal floods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:42
The death toll in Nepal has risen to 547, officials say, after Wednesday's flash flooding devastated the Himalayan border region. Chinese officials say that search and rescue operations have reached a 'critical stage', a…
Information scarcity after Nepal flash floods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:29
Why information can be hard to come by after the disastrous flash floods that have had hit Nepal and neighbouring Tibet, especially on the Chinese side of the border.Also in the programme: Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb…
Thousands still missing after China-Nepal flood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:29
Rescuers in China and Nepal are searching for about 1,300 people who are missing after a flash flood hit the two countries.At least 359 people have died in Nepal, with three confirmed deaths in China. We'll hear from bot…
Meta agrees to restrict US teen use of its social media platforms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:29
The social media giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to restrict American teenagers’ use of its platforms as part of an $18bn settlement with states that accused it of harming children. We hear from…
Hundreds missing after Nepal floods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:03
Hundreds of people are missing, including at least 291 foreign tourists, after a flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border.At least 18 people are confirmed dead in Nepal; Chinese state media is also reporting "major casualti…
Country music legend Dolly Parton dies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:19
The country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 in Nashville, Tennessee. In a seven-decade career, she won 10 Grammy awards, sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and wrote in excess of 3,000 song…
China to protect its interests in wake of US Iran sanctions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:15
China has vowed to protect its interests after the US announced plans to widen economic sanctions against Iran and its trading partners, which include Beijing. Will China scupper the squeeze on Iran?Also in the programme…
US announces 'economic onslaught' against Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:27
The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has unveiled a wave of sanctions aimed at isolating Iran's economy and says that other countries will be pressured to comply. But will the US deliver on its threats?Also in the p…
US warns of 'economic D-Day' against Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:27
The US treasury secretary has threatened Iran with "the single greatest financial offensive ever", claiming the US-Israel war with Iran was "entering its endgame".Scott Bessent said the US would sever all economic ties w…