The Taliban’s High Commission for Migrant Affairs said Pakistan deported 2,628 Afghan migrants on Sunday, returning them to Afghanistan through the Torkham, Spin Boldak and Bahramcha border crossings.
According to figures released by the commission, Iran also deported 199 Afghan migrants on the same day. They were transferred to Afghanistan via the Islam Qala and Pul-e-Abrisham border crossings.
Taliban officials said all of the migrants deported from Pakistan and Iran lacked valid residence documents. Both countries detain and deport thousands of undocumented Afghan migrants on a daily basis as part of ongoing enforcement measures.
Last week, the spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of Refugees said more than three million Afghan migrants have been deported from neighbouring countries and returned to Afghanistan during the current calendar year. Abdul Muttalib Haqqani said the majority were expelled from Pakistan and Iran.
Findings by Afghanistan International indicate that some Afghan returnees have faced arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killings after being forcibly returned from Iran. Documented cases point to a recurring pattern of violence against returnees, with victims’ relatives holding the Taliban responsible.
