Islamabad Police Intensify Arrests Of Afghans After Visa Suspension

Arafat Jamal, head of UNHCR in Afghanistan, met with Taliban Minister for Refugees Abdul Kabir in Kabul to discuss refugee-related issues. In a statement released Sunday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees said Jamal confirmed that Iranian officials had expressed readiness to take part in the upcoming meeting.

While no specific date for the meeting has been announced, Jamal said the trilateral talks would focus on the challenges faced by Afghan refugees residing in Iran and those returning to Afghanistan. He added that the meeting is expected to yield positive outcomes.

Jamal also noted that the United Nations is intensifying efforts to mobilise financial resources to support Afghan refugees and returnees. He said a separate multilateral conference aimed at securing international aid will be held soon in the Qatari capital.

During the meeting, Abdul Kabir emphasised the importance of international cooperation in addressing the needs and challenges of Afghan migrants.

Earlier, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visited Iran and met with Interior Minister Esmail Momeni. Grandi called for a joint session involving the Taliban and the Iranian government to discuss the situation of Afghan refugees.

A ministry spokesperson said the detainees were involved in activities that promoted Western culture and ideas. Saif al-Khyber al-Salam, spokesperson for the ministry, stated on Saturday that the individuals had also been in contact with foreign media outlets.

The Taliban released a video of one of the detainees, who claimed that a team of 30 people, comprising both men and women, was involved in the dubbing and translation of the series. In the video, the individual expressed remorse for his actions. It remains unclear under what circumstances the confession was recorded.

The ministry did not provide the exact date of the arrests. However, on Friday the ministry’s spokesperson said officials had also detained several production heads and shut down their offices.

In recent days, Taliban enforcers have reportedly detained hundreds of women across various districts in Kabul.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed broad restrictions on media and freedom of expression, including bans on foreign television programmes and music broadcast via visual media.

The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Taliban intelligence services maintain strict control over media content, often using threats and intimidation to influence or censor productions.

International press freedom and human rights organisations have condemned these actions as violations of fundamental rights and part of a broader effort to limit public access to information.

He said the Islamic Republic must reassess its regional relations and prioritise cooperation with its immediate neighbours.

Speaking on Saturday, during a meeting with staff at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pezeshkian said improving ties with countries such as Turkiye, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Gulf states should be a top priority. He stressed that resolving domestic challenges should be accompanied by strengthening external partnerships.

Pezeshkian said Iran could achieve major progress by reforming its relations with neighbouring countries and called for greater involvement from the private sector, academics, and cultural institutions in fostering regional cooperation.

According to the president’s office, Pezeshkian argued that with stronger ties in place, Iran would not need to worry about smaller issues, such as disputes over north-western border crossings. He urged reducing tensions and focusing on removing border barriers and creating deeper economic linkages.

Regional Integration and Border Closures

Pezeshkian questioned why regional countries could not pursue closer integration, drawing parallels to the European model, with open borders, and expanded economic collaboration.

His comments come amid the Islamic Republic’s ongoing efforts to fortify its eastern borders. A senior Iranian military official previously stated that 330 kilometres of Iran’s eastern border with Afghanistan would be sealed off by the end of 2024. Iran has allocated €3 billion to its armed forces for this effort.

In the wake of a recent 12-day conflict with Israel, Iran has also stepped up deportations of Afghan nationals, removing tens of thousands of migrants daily. The mass deportations have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, prompting warnings from the United Nations of a looming catastrophe.

Reports have emerged of Iranian police tearing up the passports of Afghan nationals with valid visas, as well as instances of violent arrests and forced deportations.

Afghan Migrants in Iran

Pezeshkian said he had instructed Iran’s interior minister to ensure that Afghan migrants are treated with care and that no administrative negligence results in negative perceptions among Afghan nationals. He described Afghans as “brothers and sisters,” highlighting shared language, history, faith, and culture.

The Sunday Times recently reported that Iran has launched one of the largest mass expulsions in modern history, with more than one million Afghans deported.

Numerous reports have surfaced in recent weeks alleging abuse, racism, and even deaths of Afghan migrants in detention camps. Taliban officials have also expressed concern over Iran’s treatment of Afghan migrants. Acting Prime Minister Mullah Hasan Akhund warned that such conduct could fuel hostility between the two nations.

Iranian border guards have repeatedly opened fire on Afghan migrants. Last year, security forces allegedly shot at migrants in the Kalgan area of Saravan.

Possible Visit to Afghanistan

Pezeshkian reaffirmed his support for closer cooperation with Afghanistan and expressed his readiness to visit the country, pending necessary arrangements, to “open a new chapter” in bilateral ties.

While Iran has maintained growing ties with the Taliban particularly in trade and security cooperation it has not formally recognised the Taliban-led government.

Over the past four years, several Iranian officials have visited Afghanistan, and Taliban representatives have travelled to Tehran. In February, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led a political and economic delegation to Kabul to advance Iran’s regional interests.

Following that visit, Iran’s ambassador in Kabul clarified that the engagement did not amount to official recognition, though Tehran would continue to maintain relations with the Taliban administration.

Relations between the two sides have seen periods of tension. Tehran has repeatedly urged the Taliban to release water flow to Iran, a request the Taliban have declined, citing drought conditions. In May 2023, a border clash in Nimruz province resulted in the deaths of two Iranian border guards and one Taliban fighter.

One protester held a placard stating that the deportation of asylum seekers amounts to “murder.” Demonstrators described the German government’s engagement with the Taliban as a “betrayal,” and called the group a “terrorist organisation.” They urged Berlin to end all cooperation with the Taliban.

The protest followed Germany’s recent decision to deport 81 Afghan asylum seekers on a charter flight, citing criminal convictions. In connection with this move, Germany allowed two Taliban-appointed consular officials to enter the country to facilitate future deportations of Afghan nationals with criminal records.

In response to a query from Afghanistan International on Thursday, the German Foreign Ministry confirmed the arrival of the Taliban diplomats, stating they would begin their duties after completing administrative procedures. The ministry said the German government aims to ensure that Afghan citizens in Germany have access to appropriate consular services.

Germany’s decision has sparked criticism from human rights activists, who argue that the deportations place individuals at risk of torture and death under Taliban rule.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, called on Germany to immediately halt deportations. He emphasised that even in cases involving criminal convictions, international legal standards particularly the principle of non-refoulement must be upheld.

Speaking during a meeting with officials from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pezeshkian said that strengthening ties with neighbouring countries is a key priority of his administration’s foreign policy.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kabul announced Pezeshkian’s intention in a post on the social media platform X on Saturday.

In the post, Pezeshkian was quoted as saying he is ready to travel to Afghanistan to open a new chapter in the history of relations between the two countries.