KABUL – The Taliban on Thursday dismissed a newly released United Nations report accusing its authorities of committing grave human rights violations against Afghans forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan, calling the findings “propaganda.”
“The people cited in this report may have been inaccurate, may be opposed to the system, or may want to spread propaganda or rumors and are therefore using the UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) for this purpose,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP.
The report, which was published earlier Thursday by UNAMA and the UN Human Rights Office, warns that thousands of Afghans deported from neighboring countries face arbitrary arrests, torture, ill-treatment, and other abuses at the hands of the Taliban.
The findings highlight that women and girls, former government employees, members of the former security forces, journalists, and civil society activists are among those most at risk of reprisals and abuse upon return. The report notes that such individuals often face interrogations, detention, and physical violence, sometimes amounting to torture, in violation of international human rights norms.
According to the United Nations, over 1.6 million Afghans have been deported or forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan since 2023, as both countries tighten immigration policies amid economic challenges and security concerns. Pakistan launched a large-scale crackdown in late 2023, expelling more than 500,000 Afghans without valid documentation, while Iran continues mass deportations of undocumented migrants through border crossings such as Islam Qala in Herat.
The Taliban, however, insist they provide assistance to returnees, including temporary housing and transport, and deny allegations of abuse.
“Our government is working to reintegrate Afghan migrants in an organized manner,” Mujahid said, accusing UNAMA of relying on “biased sources.”
The report comes as Afghanistan faces deepening economic and humanitarian crises, with unemployment soaring, poverty affecting 97% of households, and international aid sharply reduced since the Taliban took power in August 2021. Rights groups argue that mass deportations, combined with Taliban restrictions on women and civil society, are worsening vulnerability for millions of Afghans.
UNAMA has called on the Taliban to ensure the rights of all returnees, halt arbitrary arrests, and investigate allegations of torture. It also urged Iran and Pakistan to suspend forced returns until adequate protection mechanisms are in place.
