A senior Taliban official has criticised the treatment of Afghan refugees in Iran, citing reports of rights violations and poor conditions in refugee camps, as mass deportations continue across the border.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, deputy to the Taliban’s prime minister, said on Thursday, 10 July, that the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran remains “alarming,” with more than 40,000 people reportedly returning to Afghanistan each day via the Islam Qala and Pul-e-Abrisham border crossings.
Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Hanafi claimed the situation remains “under control” despite the high volume of returnees.
He alleged that Afghan refugees face mistreatment not only along migration routes but also within camps inside Iran, and said some Iranian citizens have violated the rights of Afghan migrants.
Hanafi added that the Taliban is providing immediate humanitarian assistance to returnees. Each individual is being given 2,000 Afghanis in cash and free transportation to cities across the country, he said.
Iran has significantly increased the deportation of undocumented Afghan nationals in recent months, drawing concern from human rights groups over the treatment of migrants and the lack of safeguards during their return.
