Iran Has Increased Afghan Migrant Deportations, Says Taliban
The Taliban have reported a sharp increase in the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran following the recent conflict between Iran and Israel.
The Taliban have reported a sharp increase in the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran following the recent conflict between Iran and Israel.
Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Director of Information and Culture in Herat, said that prior to the outbreak of hostilities, approximately 3,000 Afghan nationals were being forcibly deported each day via the Islam Qala border crossing. That figure has now surged to around 10,000 per day since the conflict ended, he said.
Muttaqi noted that, in addition to those forcibly removed, another 1,000 people had been voluntarily returning daily before the war. In the days following the ceasefire, he claimed, voluntary returns have increased to about 4,000 daily.
“Combined, we are now seeing roughly 13,000 people returning from Iran each day, and this could soon rise to between 15,000 and 20,000,” Muttaqi said during a public event.
Despite these claims, Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Alireza Bikdeli, said on Monday that Tehran is not applying “pressure, unjust or illegal actions” against Afghan nationals. He stated that the plan to regulate and repatriate undocumented Afghan migrants began a year ago in consultation with Taliban officials and continues as scheduled.
Reports of detentions of Afghan migrants in Iran during the Iran-Israel conflict have added to concerns over their treatment. Rights groups and Afghan officials have previously criticised Iran’s handling of Afghan refugees, particularly in the wake of increased regional instability.
