Forced Deportations Of Afghan Migrants From Iran Continue Daily, Says Taliban

In a statement released on Sunday, 6 July, the association warned that hostility toward Afghan nationals has reached “alarming” and “horrific” levels, particularly in the aftermath of the recent ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

The organisation expressed deep concern over escalating violence against Afghan migrants, stating that discriminatory practices have worsened significantly since 2023. It accused the Iranian government of systematically limiting Afghan migrants’ access to education, healthcare, and banking services, effectively pressuring them to leave the country.

The association also highlighted the risks facing deported Afghans, including potential persecution and rights violations under Taliban rule.

Reaffirming its commitment to the universal right to safety, shelter, and dignity, the group denounced the Iranian government’s handling of the situation and urged authorities to reverse current policies.

The statement follows a joint letter signed by more than 1,300 Iranian and Afghan activists, journalists, filmmakers, and civil society figures, demanding an immediate end to what they called anti-Afghan policies and mass expulsions.

The appeal comes amid a surge in deportations, with tens of thousands of Afghan nationals reportedly returned to Afghanistan in recent days.

Mansour Bijar, governor of Sistan and Baluchestan province, confirmed on Sunday, 6 July, that discussions have been scheduled with Taliban officials to streamline the expulsion process. He said the initiative targets only those without legal documentation.

“The return of Afghan nationals continues, and all relevant agencies in Iran have been mobilised,” Bijar stated.

He reported a significant rise in the number of Afghan nationals returning via Iran’s eastern borders, particularly through the Melak and Khorasan Razavi crossings. While local return camps in Sistan and Baluchestan have capacity for about 3,000 people, Bijar said as many as 14,000 individuals had recently sought repatriation to Afghanistan.

According to Bijar, more than 75,000 undocumented Afghan migrants have left Iran in the past two weeks, with over 75 percent doing so voluntarily. He added that Iranian authorities are providing transportation, food, and healthcare services at border points.

During the session, member states are expected to adopt a resolution expressing strong support for the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, amid worsening humanitarian and human rights conditions under Taliban rule.

Naseer Ahmad Faiq, the acting representative of Afghanistan to the UN, stated on Sunday that the resolution will underscore the international community’s commitment to upholding the rights, dignity, and aspirations of the Afghan population, especially women and girls. He added that member states are united in calling for a peaceful and inclusive future for the country.

This will be the second major UN meeting on Afghanistan in the past two weeks. On 23 June, the UN Security Council convened a special session to assess the situation following the latest report from the UN Secretary-General, delivered by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The report highlighted a range of concerns, including intensifying restrictions on women, deepening economic hardship, the suspension of critical aid projects, and widespread human rights abuses.

The Taliban have dismissed such international meetings as ineffective, citing the absence of their representatives in the proceedings. They have instead called for direct diplomatic engagement between their administration and individual states, a position backed by regional powers including Russia and China.

The campaign emerged following a sharp escalation in deportations by the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly in the aftermath of its recent 12-day conflict with Israel.

Some social media users have shared an unverified list allegedly identifying Afghan businessmen with substantial accounts at Iran’s Bank Sepah. The authenticity of the list has not been independently verified.

Seta Sultani, one of the campaign organisers, wrote: “Afghan investors in Iran, if you have even a shred of dignity, pull your investments out. At the very least, don’t accept this humiliation.”

Samiullah Amin, another participant, called on Afghan traders to explore alternatives: “If you won’t return to your country, the best alternative is Dubai: no discrimination, no conflict, and a suitable place for business and life. It even offers renewable 10-year golden visas.”

Laila Forugh, writing on X (formerly Twitter), also appealed to Afghan business owners: “Withdraw your capital from Iran. At the very least, don’t accept this disgrace. If there are no opportunities at home, go to Oman, the UAE, or Saudi Arabia. In Iran, even your money isn’t safe. It could be seized at any moment.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently reported that more than 1.2 million Afghan citizens have been forcibly deported from Iran and Pakistan since the beginning of the year. The agency warned that continued large-scale deportations could further exacerbate Afghanistan’s already dire humanitarian crisis.

The victims, identified as Hakimullah and Ahmad Ali, were reportedly arrested about ten days ago in the Abdullah Khel Valley and transferred to the central prison at Dashtak, according to residents who spoke to Afghanistan International.

Ghulam Farooq Alem, a civil activist from the district now living abroad, said the pair were repeatedly taken from the prison into the surrounding mountains as Taliban fighters searched for alleged hidden weapons. “They were accused of stashing arms, but no evidence was produced,” Alem told the broadcaster.

Alem and another local source, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said the two men were executed by firing squad on Saturday, 5 July, and that their bodies have not been returned to their families. The second source stressed that neither man had any links to the National Resistance Front (NRF), an anti-Taliban group active in the region.

The Malam-Khak mountains are regarded as strategically significant. In the summer of 2022, Haji Malik Khan, a former Taliban commander who joined the NRF, was killed there alongside dozens of fighters.

Taliban officials in Panjshir have not commented on the latest allegations. Rights groups have previously accused the Taliban of carrying out extrajudicial killings in the province, a charge the group denies.