Taliban Criticises Iran’s Deportation Practices, Calls For Dignified Repatriation

In a statement posted on Thursday, 11 July, on X (formerly Twitter), McCaul wrote: “Since their brutal takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban have created a devastating humanitarian crisis — destroying advances in women’s rights, taking American hostages for political gain, and publicly executing individuals.”

He condemned Russia’s move as “a transparent attempt by the unholy alliance to legitimize its allies,” adding, “I join leaders across the free world in decrying this dangerous move, which puts a rubber stamp on the Taliban’s brutal rule.”

Earlier this month, Russia became the first permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and the first country globally, to formally recognise the Taliban as Afghanistan’s ruling government.

The Kremlin’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from Washington. While China has yet to extend formal recognition, it publicly welcomed Moscow’s move. Other nations have so far remained silent on the issue.

In a statement issued by the commission, officials said a total of 28593 migrants returned to Afghanistan, with 21881 entering via the Islam Qala border crossing and another 6712 through the Pul-e Abrisham checkpoint.

The commission also reported that 324 Afghan migrants returned from Pakistan through the Spin Boldak border, while 465 others crossed back into Afghanistan via the Torkham border.

The surge in deportations comes amid ongoing concerns from humanitarian organisations about the conditions faced by returnees and the capacity of Afghan authorities and aid agencies to respond to the increasing influx.

Konstantin Kosachev, deputy speaker of Russia’s Federation Council, made the remarks in a statement posted on his Telegram channel on Thursday, 10 July. He claimed the ICC had shown little interest in Afghanistan until Moscow began taking steps toward recognising the Taliban-led government.

Kosachev accused the ICC of applying double standards, alleging that the court has failed to investigate or act on alleged war crimes committed by Western forces and their allies during their military presence in Afghanistan.

The ICC announced earlier this week that it had issued arrest warrants for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani on charges of crimes against humanity, including gender-based persecution.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Neumann said more than 700000 Afghan refugees have been expelled from Iran so far this year, calling the situation a “crime unfolding in real time.”

“Let’s talk about hypocrisy, collective failure and a crime unfolding in real time,” she wrote. “The EU said three years ago that Afghan refugees should go to Iran. Now, the Islamic regime is deporting them into hell. Over 700000 Afghans have been expelled from Iran this year.”

According to Neumann, many deportees arrive at the Islam Qala border crossing “barefoot, hungry, violated and sent straight into Taliban territory.” She said some of the returnees were born in Iran and have never even seen Afghanistan.

“This isn’t migration,” she stressed. “It’s expulsion, by force, scale and terror. No legal review. No access to asylum. No due process.”

Neumann also alleged that Afghan migrants in Iran, including those with valid visas, education records and children, are being dragged from their homes, dumped at the border, and often have their documents destroyed.

She called for urgent international action, including the issuance of humanitarian visas for at-risk Afghans, emergency funding for the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, and the establishment of safe and legal exit routes from Iran that do not place returnees at risk of Taliban persecution.

In a statement released Thursday, NRC Country Director in Afghanistan Jacopo Caridi said: “We are seeing families arrive exhausted and distressed to a country that has very limited capacity to support.”

Caridi stressed that Afghanistan currently lacks the infrastructure and resources to absorb and reintegrate such a large influx of returnees. “We are doing everything we can, but the scale of needs is exceeding the current resources,” he added.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 1.4 million Afghan migrants have returned from Iran since the beginning of 2024. The NRC warned that, if the current pace continues, more than 3 million Afghans could be forced back into the country by the end of 2025.

The organisation called for an immediate halt to forced returns, arguing that present conditions in Afghanistan “do not meet the minimum standards for safety or sustainability.”