KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – More than 1,000 Afghan families were deported or voluntarily returned from Iran and Pakistan on Tuesday, according to the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency.
The majority of the families, 769 in total, crossed back into Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak borders from Pakistan. An additional 238 families returned from Iran via the Silk Bridge crossing in Nimruz and Islam Qala in Herat.
For decades, Afghanistan’s western and southern neighbors, Iran and Pakistan, have been home to millions of Afghan refugees fleeing conflict, political instability, and economic hardship in their homeland.
The situation escalated following the U.S. and NATO military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, which saw the Taliban’s return to power. Hundreds of thousands more Afghans fled to Iran and Pakistan, fearing retribution from the Taliban regime.
The UN reported last year that both Iran and Pakistan host 7.7 million Afghan refugees, with 4.5 million in Iran and 3.2 million in Pakistan. However, Iranian authorities claim the number is even higher, suggesting nearly 6 million refugees.
In recent years, both countries have escalated their crackdown on Afghan refugees, deporting thousands daily despite the worsening humanitarian, human rights, and economic crises in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
The UN and rights groups, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly urged Afghanistan’s neighboring countries to continue providing refuge, especially for vulnerable individuals seeking safety due to ongoing security concerns.
Pakistani authorities argue that undocumented refugees are a significant source of insecurity and illegal activities in their country. They justify the crackdown as a counter-terrorism measure, citing a recent increase in security incidents in the country.
