KABUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,693 Afghan refugee families, totaling 6,202 individuals, returned to their homeland, Afghanistan, from the neighboring Iran and Pakistan on Friday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees Problems announced Saturday.

The returnees crossed into Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing in western Herat province, the Torkham border crossing in eastern Nangarhar province, the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province, and the Abrisham border crossing in western Nimroz province, it said.

Over two million Afghans, including 500,000 children, have returned from Iran, Pakistan, and other countries this year alone, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported in early August.

Around 6 million Afghan refugees, most of whom are undocumented, are currently living abroad, with most living in Iran and Pakistan, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reported in late July. ■