Iran has expelled more than 114000 Afghan nationals through the Islam Qala border crossing in just five days, following the ceasefire that ended its 12-day conflict with Israel, according to figures obtained by Afghanistan International.
On Tuesday, 24 June, the first day of the ceasefire, an estimated 18000 Afghans crossed into Afghanistan. The number rose to 31000 on Wednesday and surged to over 36000 on Thursday. While the pace slowed slightly, some 16000 returned on Friday, and by 4 PM local time on Saturday, another 13000 had entered through the same crossing.
Local sources say the deportations, taking place during the peak of summer heat, have severely strained resources at Islam Qala. Overcrowding, combined with limited transport, drinking water, and medical care, has fuelled fears of an escalating humanitarian crisis. International organisations are attempting to provide minimal assistance, but the scale of the returns is outpacing capacity.
According to the United Nations, the vast majority of those returning were forcibly deported, with only a small number returning voluntarily. Some migrants have claimed they were expelled despite holding valid passports and visas. Reports from Islam Qala suggest that Iranian police have disregarded legal documentation in many cases.
The crackdown comes as Iran intensifies efforts to control undocumented migration. The Iranian government has accelerated the construction of border walls, barred employers from hiring undocumented workers, and restricted Afghan movement in several provinces. Authorities have warned all foreign nationals without valid residency to leave the country.
Tensions escalated further during the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, when Iranian security services arrested approximately 700 Iranian citizens and at least five Afghan nationals on charges of espionage. Migrants say that since the ceasefire, security forces have treated them more harshly, with police in several cities reportedly confiscating phones and accusing individuals of collaborating with Israel.
In response to the mass deportations, a high-level Taliban delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi travelled to Herat on Saturday to assess the situation at the border. Taliban officials have formed a commission to address urgent needs, relying largely on support from local businesses and private organisations. Transport from the border to Herat city, along with food, water, and some cash assistance, is being provided by private companies operating in the region.
International aid agencies, including UNICEF, UNAMA, IOM, WHO, and local groups such as WADAN, are working on the ground to register and assist returnees. They are also coordinating transportation and providing healthcare and vaccinations. The polio vaccination campaign at the border has been reinforced in recent days, with expanded staffing and wider coverage.
Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in Kabul, who recently visited the border area, described the returnees as “exhausted, hungry and deeply worried about an uncertain future.” He said many families are arriving with little more than the clothes they are wearing, and noted that women and girls are particularly anxious about restrictions on education, employment, and freedom of movement under Taliban rule.
The UNHCR has warned that without an immediate increase in international support, Afghanistan’s already fragile humanitarian situation could worsen significantly. As deportations from Iran continue at an unprecedented rate, aid organisations say urgent funding is needed to prevent the crisis from deepening further.
