KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Iran and Pakistan have repatriated more than 730 Afghan families in a single day, as both countries continue their crackdown on Afghan refugees.
The Taliban-run Bakhtar News Agency said a total of 739 families were sent back on Friday. Of those, 275 families returned from Pakistan through Torkham, Spin Boldak, Angur Ada, and Bahramcha border crossings.
Meanwhile, 464 families were repatriated from Iran via the Silk Bridge border crossing in Nimruz and the Islam Qala crossing in Herat province.
The report noted that upon arrival, the families received basic assistance.
Both Iran and Pakistan host an estimated 7.7 million Afghan refugees. In recent months, authorities in both countries have ramped up arrests and deportations, sending back thousands of Afghans each day.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that more than 2.4 million Afghan refugees have been deported or have voluntarily returned from Iran and Pakistan since September 2023.
Iran has announced plans to deport approximately 2 million more Afghan refugees. Meanwhile, Pakistan now aims to deport an estimated 2.1 million Afghans holding temporary protection documents, such as Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) and Proof of Registration (PoR), along with thousands of undocumented Afghans.
The UN and human rights organizations have repeatedly called for an immediate halt to the deportations. They warn that many returnees, particularly activists, former officials, and journalists, face serious risks under Taliban rule.
