KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – More than 2,000 Afghan migrants were deported from Pakistan and Iran and returned to Afghanistan in a single day, according to the Taliban’s Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Problems.
The commission said that on Tuesday (January 13), a total of 2,165 migrants crossed into Afghanistan after being expelled from the two neighboring countries.
Of these, 1,766 people entered through the Torkham border crossing, 195 through Spin Boldak, and 119 through Bahramcha after being deported from Pakistan. From Iran, 51 migrants returned through the Islam Qala crossing and 34 through Pul-e-Abrisham, the commission said.
Pakistan and Iran have significantly intensified arrests and deportations of Afghan migrants this year. According to Taliban officials, more than 2.5 million Afghans have been forced back into Afghanistan since the beginning of the current year.
International humanitarian organizations have warned that the rapid and large-scale deportations are worsening Afghanistan’s already severe humanitarian crisis, leaving many returnees without shelter, jobs, or across to basic services.
Aid agencies and international organizations have repeatedly called on Pakistan and Iran to halt the forced deportation of Afghan migrants and to end the harassment and mistreatment of Afghan refugees.
