Deportations Of Afghan Migrants Continuing Without Pause, Says Iran

Between 18 and 20 August, Ambassador Cenk Ünal and Indrika Ratwatte, deputy head of the UN political mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), toured the mountainous region and shared photos of its striking landscapes.

Ünal wrote on X that he visited UN-backed projects, met local residents and heard their concerns. “We had warm reception and sincere welcome everywhere. Glad to meet with people who are still able to smile despite the tough conditions,” he said.

The United Nations said it has launched several development initiatives in the corridor, one of the country’s most isolated regions. Ratwatte stressed the importance of long-term investment, saying: “I witnessed the powerful impact of UN and partner efforts, moving beyond emergency aid to build resilient communities.”

Ünal added that ensuring development in Wakhan requires a collective effort so that “no one is left behind.”

Bakht Jamal Gohar, a Taliban representative at the Torkham border crossing, said deportations had recently accelerated, though he did not specify by how much.

Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal, head of the Taliban-run Omari camp in Torkham, urged aid agencies to provide more assistance to those being sent back.

Meanwhile, Taliban ambassador to Pakistan Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb accused Islamabad of committing “injustice” against Afghan migrants. In a media interview, he said many Afghans in Pakistan hold assets, investments and property, and appealed to Pakistani authorities to allow them time to collect or sell their belongings.

Pakistan has deported tens of thousands of undocumented Afghans since announcing a crackdown on illegal migration last year, a move that has drawn criticism from rights groups and international organisations.

Mohammad Javanbakht, Iran’s deputy energy minister for water affairs, told state-run Tasnim News Agency that this year’s drought and low rainfall had worsened shortages in Iran. He said that under the 1973 Helmand River treaty, Afghanistan is obliged to provide Iran with 820 million cubic metres of water annually.

“Only about 100 million cubic metres of water reached the Chah Nimeh reservoirs this year,” Javanbakht said, describing the shortfall as a serious breach of the agreement. He added that Tehran would now pursue its water rights “more firmly and decisively.”

Iran’s foreign minister has also cited Afghanistan’s failure to meet water commitments as a major challenge in bilateral relations.

Some Iranian officials allege the Taliban have deliberately diverted water into salt marshes to prevent flows into Iran. The Taliban reject the claim, blaming regional drought, but insist they remain committed to the treaty.

During a recent visit to Iran, Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said providing water for residents of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province was both a humanitarian responsibility and an Islamic duty.

In a statement on Thursday, the court said a primary court in Jeghatu district of Ghazni province sentenced the pair to three months in prison and 30 lashes. The punishment, which had been approved by the Supreme Court, was carried out in front of local officials, court staff, visitors and residents.

Despite repeated criticism from Afghan citizens, human rights organisations and the international community, the Taliban continue to enforce public corporal punishments.

What the Taliban call ‘moral corruption’

The charge of “moral corruption” is frequently used against young men and women, often after arrests by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Under the ministry’s rules, any interaction between men and women outside marriage, including phone calls, conversations, attending weddings or other mixed gatherings, travelling without a male guardian, or women appearing in public without one, can be deemed a violation. Dress considered “inappropriate” by the Taliban may also lead to detention.

Rights groups say Taliban courts routinely deny defendants fair trial rights, including access to independent lawyers. Trials are closed to media, civil society and the public. Human rights monitors report that forced confessions and torture are common in detention centres, while punishments are often harsh and inconsistent with international standards.

One participant said the meeting is now expected to take place in the last week of September.

The two-day event, organised by Pakistan’s South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI), is set to bring together representatives of Afghan political groups, civil society, women’s rights activists and media, alongside Pakistani academics and policymakers. Organisers say the goal is to define common principles for stability, rule of law and a representative government in Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry had earlier confirmed the conference, describing it as an “open event” hosted by a think tank. On Friday, ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the gathering would go ahead under SASSI’s auspices.

The meeting has drawn sharp reactions. Former US envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad criticised Pakistan’s decision to host the event, calling it “immature, irresponsible and unfortunate.”

Maria Sultan, head of SASSI, responded that the conference had unsettled Khalilzad’s “peace” and extended an invitation for him to attend as an honorary guest. Afghan women’s rights activist Fawzia Koofi also rebuked Khalilzad, saying Afghans had lost their rights due to his “bad faith and mismanagement” during the peace process. She argued it was better to invite him to the meeting than allow him to see it as a threat.

Although Pakistan has engaged closely with the Taliban since their return to power in 2021, tensions have grown amid worsening security inside Pakistan. Islamabad has accused the Taliban of allowing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters to shelter across the border. Analysts say Pakistan’s frustrations with the Taliban’s inaction against the TTP have led it to encourage dialogue with Taliban opponents instead.