NewKerala.com

Afghan Refugee Crisis: Over 3,000 Forcibly Deported in a Single Day

A Taliban official has revealed a sharp spike in forced deportations of Afghan refugees. Over 3,000 individuals were sent back from Iran and Pakistan in just one day. This comes alongside a UN report showing a massive increase in Afghan arrests by Pakistani authorities this year. Aid organizations are warning that these mass returns are creating a humanitarian crisis at the border.

Key Points: Over 3000 Afghan Refugees Deported from Iran Pakistan

  • Over 3,000 Afghans forcibly returned via multiple border crossings in a single day
  • UNHCR reports record 100,971 Afghan arrests in Pakistan this year
  • Majority of those detained lacked formal refugee documentation
  • Humanitarian groups warn mass expulsions cause border instability
2 min read

Over 3000 Afghan refugees forcibly deported from Iran, Pakistan in single day

Taliban official reports over 3000 Afghan refugees forcibly repatriated from Iran and Pakistan in one day, amid record detentions by Pakistani authorities.

"577 families, comprising 3,005 individuals, returned to Afghanistan on Monday - Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, Taliban Deputy Spokesperson"

Kabul, Dec 16

Over 3000 Afghan refugees have been forcibly repatriated from Iran and Pakistan in a single day, a top Taliban official stated on Tuesday.

Sharing the High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues report on X, Taliban Deputy Spokesperson Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat revealed that 577 families, comprising 3,005 individuals, returned to Afghanistan on Monday, Pajhwok Afghan News reported.

He said that Afghan returnees travelled to Afghanistan through the Islam Qala crossing in Herat, Bahramcha in Helmand, Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz, Torkham crossing in Nangarhar and Spin Boldak in Kandahar. He stated that 967 families, comprising 5,423 individuals, were taken to their respective areas, while 792 families were provided humanitarian assistance.

Furthermore, telecommunication firms provided 479 SIM cards to refugees who recently returned to Afghanistan.

Fitrat stated that 5,580 Afghan refugees were forcibly deported from Iran and Pakistan on Sunday.

Earlier in November, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) revealed that Pakistan has detained a record number of Afghan migrants in 2025, with the highest number of arrests reported in Balochistan and Punjab provinces.

A new UNHCR report has revealed that the majority of arrests were made in Chagai and Quetta districts of Balochistan and Attock districts of Punjab, Afghanistan's leading news agency Khaama Press reported.

According to the agency, Pakistani authorities arrested 100,971 Afghans between January 1 and mid-November 2025, a record rise compared with about 9,000 arrests in 2024 and over 26,000 in 2023.

UNHCR said 76 per cent of those detained were Afghan Citizen Card holders or undocumented migrants, while the remaining 24 per cent possessed Proof of Registration cards.

The rise in detention of Afghan migrants comes after two government orders in 2025, which directed the removal of Afghan migrants from Islamabad and Rawalpindi and allowed police to arrest PoR-card holders.

Several humanitarian organisations have urged Pakistan to ensure that any returns are voluntary and in accordance with international obligations. They warned that mass expulsions cause instability along the Afghanistan border, where newly returned families often lack housing, employment and basic services.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While the situation is tragic, we in India also need to be vigilant. A sudden influx of thousands of displaced people right at our western border can create security and economic pressures. Our government must monitor this closely and have a contingency plan. Our own resources are stretched thin.
A
Aman W
Pakistan's hypocrisy is showing again. They lecture the world on human rights but are arresting over 100,000 Afghans in less than a year? And now forcing them back into a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan with nothing? Shameful. At least they got a SIM card, I guess. 🙄
S
Sarah B
The scale is staggering. 100,971 arrests in 2025 vs 9,000 in 2024. This is a deliberate, brutal policy shift. These people fled war and are being sent back to instability. The UNHCR warnings about lack of housing and jobs are going to be ignored, and ordinary Afghans will suffer. The world is just watching.
K
Karthik V
It's a complex issue. Pakistan and Iran have hosted millions for decades. Their economies are under strain. But mass, forced returns are not the solution. It destabilizes the entire region. A coordinated international effort for voluntary, dignified repatriation and aid inside Afghanistan is the only way. Hope SAARC or SCO can discuss this.
N
Nikhil C
Respectfully, while the criticism of Pakistan/Iran is valid, we must also ask what the Taliban government is doing to reintegrate its own citizens. They are the ruling authority now. Providing "humanitarian assistance" to 792 families is a start, but what about long-term plans

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50