KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban authorities report that approximately 3,500 Afghan refugees were repatriated from Iran and Pakistan on Monday, May 27, through both forced and voluntary means.
In a statement, the Taliban Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR) said that over 2,859 Afghan refugees were repatriated from Iran via the Islam Qala crossing point on Monday.
According to the Taliban statement, out of those repatriated from Iran, 415 individuals in need were identified and referred to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to receive assistance.
The Taliban ministry also said that approximately 25 homeless children were referred to the War Child Organization, 108 families received assistance, 235 people were provided with free SIM cards, and health services were offered to 211 individuals in need.
Meanwhile, the ministry reports that approximately 622 Afghan refugees were forcefully repatriated from Pakistan through both Torkham and Spin Boldak crossing points on Monday, May 27.
The ministry has said that after registering these individuals, they were referred to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to receive assistance.
Iran and Pakistan have hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades, as they fled their country due to conflicts, economic issues, and political instability.
After the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, which led to a swift takeover by the Taliban, hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled the country, mostly to neighboring Iran and Pakistan, to escape potential retaliation from the Taliban.
According to the UN report, both countries currently host approximately 7.7 million Afghan refugees, with 4.5 million in Iran and 3.2 million in Pakistan, predominantly comprising women and children.
The implementation of anti-migrant policies and continued crackdowns on undocumented Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan have resulted in the deportation of over 1.5 million Afghan refugees, mainly women and children, back to Taliban-controlled and impoverished Afghanistan.
Upon returning to their country, Afghans are facing worsening economic, humanitarian, and healthcare conditions, which have deteriorated since the Taliban’s return to power and worsened due to recent natural disasters. The UN reports that this year, over 23 million people, representing over half of the population, rely on humanitarian assistance.
The UN and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly urged Afghanistan’s neighboring countries to continue supporting refugees, especially vulnerable individuals seeking refuge due to security concerns.
Pakistani authorities claim that undocumented refugees are a major source of insecurity and illegal activities in their country. They justify the crackdown as a counter-terrorism measure, pointing to the recent surge in security incidents in the country.
Recently, Pakistan initiated the second phase of refugee expulsions, targeting the deportation of around 840,000 Afghan Citizen Card holders. These cards, issued in 2017 and 2018, had granted Afghan refugees legal status in Pakistan.
