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Over 3,500 Afghan Refugees Forced Home in One Day as Pakistan, Iran Deportations Surge

Over 3,500 Afghan refugees were repatriated from Iran and Pakistan in a single day, according to a Taliban official. Afghan refugees in Pakistan report systematic harassment, arbitrary arrests, and extortion by authorities and plainclothes individuals. Media reports highlight that these refugees live in constant fear without basic human rights, while human rights groups remain largely silent on the issue. The surge in deportations and pressure coincides with ongoing political tensions between the Taliban administration and Pakistan.

Key Points: Pakistan, Iran Deport 3,500+ Afghan Refugees in a Day

  • Mass single-day deportations
  • Police harassment & extortion
  • Lack of basic human rights
  • Silence from support groups
2 min read

Pakistan, Iran deport over 3,500 Afghan refugees in single day: Taliban

Taliban reports mass deportations from Pakistan and Iran, with refugees facing harassment, extortion, and a lack of basic rights amid escalating regional tensions.

"Afghan people have said that they live in inhumane conditions filled with fear and anxiety, and their refugee rights are not respected. - 8 AM Media Report"

Kabul, Dec 25

Over 3,500 Afghan refugees have been repatriated from Iran and Pakistan in a single day, a Taliban official said on Thursday.

Sharing a report from the High Commission for Addressing Migrants' Issues on X, Taliban deputy spokesperson Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat stated that 745 families -- comprising 3,513 individuals -- returned to Afghanistan on Wednesday, Pajhwok Afghan News reported.

Afghan returnees travelled to Afghanistan through several border crossings, including Islam Qala in Herat, Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Bahramcha in Helmand and Torkham in Nangarhar.

Fitrat stated that 627 families, including 3,487 individuals, were taken to their respective regions, while 660 families were provided humanitarian assistance upon arrival. Additionally, telecommunication firms provided 714 SIM cards to the returning refugees.

He revealed that 3,610 Afghan refugees were deported from Iran and Pakistan on Tuesday.

Earlier in November, several Afghan refugees in Pakistan said that they had been overwhelmed by continuous pressure from the country's police, which, apart from conducting searches, was arresting people and exploiting their vulnerable situation as a source of income.

A report in an Afghan newspaper, '8 AM Media', also known as Hasht-e-Subh Daily, highlighted that Afghan refugees in Pakistan do not have basic human rights and live in constant fear and anxiety.

Human rights groups and refugee-support groups have remained silent regarding the uncertainty and the government's failure to fulfil its commitment to human rights and the protection of refugees.

Over the past few months, as tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan continue, Islamabad has increased its pressure on Afghan refugees, with the Pakistani forces conducting widespread harassment of migrants each day in various areas, including Islamabad.

Apart from official operations involving the arrest of Afghan refugees without visas, people in plain clothes extort money from migrants in residential areas. Afghan people have said that they live in inhumane conditions filled with fear and anxiety, and their refugee rights are not respected.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Very sad to read. The report mentions SIM cards being provided, but what about shelter, food, and jobs? Returning to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan can't be easy for these families. The world's attention is elsewhere, but we must not forget our neighbours in distress. 🙏
A
Aman W
Pakistan's hypocrisy is showing. They lecture others on human rights but their police are extorting money from vulnerable refugees? Shameful. These people have nowhere to go. The Taliban government also has a responsibility to reintegrate them properly.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked with NGOs, this is a predictable tragedy. When host countries face economic strain, refugees are the first to be targeted. While India has its own complex refugee policies, I hope we can find a way to support humanitarian corridors or aid. The silence of major human rights groups is deafening.
K
Karthik V
This is the real cost of geopolitical tensions. Ordinary people suffer. Pakistan's pressure is clearly linked to their issues with the Taliban. It's a messy situation, but deporting thousands in a day without proper planning is cruel. Hope the returnees find some stability.
N
Nisha Z
A respectful criticism: while it's easy to blame Pakistan and Iran, we must also ask what the Taliban government is doing to create conditions so people don't have to flee in the first place? Long-term stability in Afghanistan is the only real solution. Sending people back to an uncertain future helps no one.

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

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