Iranian Police Seize Afghan Migrants’ Phones Over Suspected Links To Israel

His visit has drawn attention on social media, where images showed him being received by a number of Afghan religious scholars upon his arrival in the capital.

It remains unclear whether Ismaeelzahi’s trip was made at the invitation of the Taliban government or organised independently by religious figures.

Ismaeelzahi, widely regarded as the most influential Sunni leader in Iran, has been a vocal critic of the Islamic Republic, especially on issues concerning religious freedom and the rights of Sunni Muslims and other minorities.

Following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Ismaeelzahi initially welcomed the development, describing it as a “great and remarkable victory.” At the time, he expressed cautious optimism about the group's transformation over the past two decades, stating: “I assure the world that today’s Taliban are not the Taliban of 20 years ago; they have gained experience and their views have evolved. Even if there are shortcomings, they can be corrected.”

However, he later issued strong criticism of the Taliban’s policies, particularly the ban on girls’ education. In a Friday sermon, he questioned the religious justification behind such measures, asking: “By what religious authority have you banned girls from studying?”

He continued: “When I said the Taliban are not the same as they were 20 years ago and have changed, some objected to my view. I still believe they’ve changed, but no one should prevent women from getting an education. Universities must be open to women.”

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement on Friday, 27 June, asserting that the Taliban-led government maintains full control over the country and will not permit any group to use Afghan soil to threaten other nations.

“We strongly reject the claim made by the US House of Representatives suggesting that foreign groups are present in Afghanistan or that any threat emanates from its territory,” Mujahid wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. He described Afghanistan as having a “unified and strong government.”

The response follows comments made by Huizenga during a Thursday hearing of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, which he chairs. In his remarks, the Michigan Republican said that the Taliban’s return to power and the Biden administration’s rapid withdrawal of US forces have significantly increased the terrorism threat across the region.

“Afghanistan has once again become a hotbed for terrorists looking for safe harbour,” Huizenga said, criticising the Taliban for failing to uphold its counterterrorism commitments under the 2020 Doha Agreement.

He pointed specifically to the rising influence of ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), warning that the threat posed by these groups is now “higher than at any time in recorded history.”

While the Taliban maintains it has eradicated terrorist networks in the country, US and international officials have repeatedly expressed concerns over Afghanistan’s potential to harbour extremist groups, particularly amid reduced Western intelligence capabilities on the ground.

Mujahid insisted that no threat originates from Afghanistan and reaffirmed the Taliban’s position that it does not allow the use of Afghan territory for operations against other countries.

Local authorities reported that the deportations, which occurred on Wednesday, 25 June, have overwhelmed the Islam Qala border crossing, a major entry point from Iran. The Taliban said additional government teams and NGOs have been deployed to manage the growing emergency.

The deportations coincide with increased regional tensions, as Iran engaged in a military conflict with Israel. The deteriorating security situation has prompted both Afghan migrants and some Iranian citizens to flee into Herat in search of safety.

Ahmadullah Muttaqi, director of information and culture for the Taliban in Herat, said around 600 passenger buses transported the migrants from Iran to the border. He confirmed that basic services including water, food and transport have been provided, though many returnees have complained about inadequate support.

On Thursday, local sources told Afghanistan International that Noor Ahmad Islamjar, the Taliban governor of Herat, visited the border and ordered immediate action to prevent a humanitarian crisis. The governor’s office confirmed the visit, stating that Islamjar instructed the acceleration of emergency aid and improvements to the migrant intake system.

Despite efforts on the ground, many returnees said they waited hours without assistance. Mohammad Rafi, who returned with his family, described “severe disorganisation” at the Islam Qala crossing.

The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan’s fragile situation worsened by drought, poverty, and strained infrastructure cannot support the mass influx. According to UN figures, more than 800000 Afghan migrants have been deported or returned voluntarily from Iran and Pakistan over the past six months.

“Every returnee deserves safety and dignity,” said Indrika Ratwatte, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan (UNAMA), in a statement Thursday. “But without urgent support, we risk seeing families slide deeper into poverty and despair.” Ratwatte added that the window to avert a full-scale humanitarian disaster is “rapidly closing.”

Some returnees cited fear for their personal safety during Iran’s 12-day military conflict as a key reason for leaving. Others had already planned to return but were delayed by the outbreak of violence.

Representative Bill Huizenga criticised the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it rushed and stating that it had fundamentally altered the region’s terrorist threat landscape. Speaking during a subcommittee hearing, Huizenga said Afghanistan has once again become a safe haven for terrorist groups.

He identified ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the most significant threats in South and Central Asia, warning that these groups are expanding their operational capabilities to conduct attacks both regionally and globally.

“Groups like ISIS-K and TTP are now more prominent than ever,” Huizenga said, highlighting Pakistan as the country that has suffered the highest number of terrorist attacks in recent years.

While the Taliban claim to have defeated extremist threats, Huizenga pointed to their failure to contain ISIS-K. He noted that the group continues to launch attacks and actively radicalise and recruit individuals, including from migrant communities outside Central Asia.

The congressman cited ISIS-K’s deadly 2021 attack at Kabul airport, as well as its operations in Russia, Iran and its failed plot targeting the Paris Summer Olympics, as examples of its expanding reach.

Huizenga emphasised the continued leadership role of the United States in global counterterrorism efforts, saying Washington works with international partners through bilateral agreements and multilateral frameworks to combat terrorism.

“The United States remains committed to supporting our allies in the region as they confront these persistent threats,” he said.

The study, High-Risk Drug Use in Afghanistan, mapped 651 drug-use “hotspots” roughly 2.6 per 100000 people each hosting an average of 41 high-risk users. Kabul recorded the largest concentration with about 4700 users, followed by Faryab province with 3200. UNODC said around 2500 people, or 9 per cent of users in these areas, inject drugs, heightening the risk of infectious diseases.

Women account for 10 per cent and children eight per cent of all high-risk users, groups UNODC labelled “especially vulnerable”.

Production and supply

Afghanistan has long been a major producer of illicit opium. Between 2018 and 2022 it yielded an estimated 5,000–6,500 tonnes annually, contributing up to 11 per cent of national GDP in 2020. The Taliban’s April 2022 ban on poppy cultivation prompted a 95 per cent drop in production, from 6200 tonnes in 2022 to about 333 tonnes in 2023, the report said.

The clamp-down on opium has coincided with a rise in synthetic drugs. While methamphetamine production was formally banned in 2022, precursors such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine remain readily available. Recent large seizures in Afghanistan and neighbouring states suggest meth output and trafficking continue largely unabated.

UNODC noted Afghanistan’s historic role in cannabis cultivation, once the world’s second-largest source between 2014 and 2018, but said no reliable data exist on the crop’s status since the Taliban ban.

The agency urged greater support for treatment services, with a focus on women and children, and called for continued monitoring of shifting drug trends in the country.