KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – More than 30,000 Afghan migrants returned from Iran on Wednesday, June 25, as deportations from the neighboring country continue to accelerate.
Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Director of Information and Culture in Herat, said the returnees entered Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing.
He added that the deportation process is ongoing at a rapid pace, with dozens of buses carrying migrants en route to Afghanistan.
Muttaqi claimed that basic services such as water, food, and emergency assistance have been provided for the returnees. He also stated that special transportation is being used to transfer them to their home provinces.
This wave of deportations follows the outbreak of war between Iran and Israel, after which Iranian authorities announced a renewed crackdown on Afghan migrants, including mass arrests and expulsions.
Even after a ceasefire between the two countries, Afghan migrants have reported that detentions and forced removals have intensified.
Previously, Taliban officials said an average of 10,000 migrants were returning daily from Iran. The latest figure marks a significant increase.
Earlier this year, the Iranian government revoked census documents held by approximately two million Afghan migrants, documents that had previously granted them legal residency.
Affected individuals are now issued exit permits through special offices and are required to leave the country within the time specified.
