Iran, Pakistan Deport Over 3000 Afghans In Single Day, Says Taliban
Iran and Pakistan deported more than 3000 Afghan migrants in a single day, according to the Taliban’s High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues.
The mass deportations took place on Tuesday, 20 May, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries.
The Commission reported that a total of 3094 Afghans were deported of which 1908 deported from Iran and 1186 deported from Pakistan. The returnees entered Afghanistan through multiple key border crossings, including Torkham, Spin Boldak, Bahramcha, Pul-e-Abrisham, and Islam Qala.
Of those deported, 374 individuals were transferred from Kabul to various provinces, including Paktia, Khost, Laghman, Nangarhar, Baghlan, Kunduz, Takhar, Samangan, Balkh, Badakhshan, Faryab, and Sar-e Pol.
According to the Taliban commission, the returnees collectively received over 6 million Afghanis in humanitarian assistance upon arrival.
The deportations come in the wake of diplomatic engagements by the Taliban. On Sunday, Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran to discuss bilateral issues, including the treatment and return of Afghan migrants. Similar discussions were also held earlier with Pakistan’s special envoy, Mohammad Sadiq.
However, ongoing daily reports from the Taliban’s migrant commission suggest that these high-level diplomatic talks have so far had little tangible impact on curbing the pace of deportations from either Iran or Pakistan.
