Daily Returns Continue as Over 2,200 Afghans Repatriated from Iran and Pakistan

More than 2,200 Afghan refugees returned to their homeland on Tuesday, continuing a steady flow of repatriations from the neighboring countries of Iran and Pakistan, according to Taliban officials.

Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), cited a report from the High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues in a social media post on Sunday. The figures indicate that 450 families, comprising a total of 2,254 individuals, crossed the border back into Afghanistan on Tuesday.

The returnees entered through multiple major border crossings, dispersing across several provinces. Key points of entry included the Islam Qala crossing in Herat (western Afghanistan), Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz (southwestern Afghanistan), Spin Boldak in Kandahar (southern Afghanistan), Bahramcha in Helmand (southern Afghanistan), and the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar (eastern Afghanistan).

Upon arrival, authorities reported that logistical and humanitarian assistance was provided. Of the returning families, 199 (encompassing 1,018 individuals) were transported to their final destinations within the country. Additionally, 417 families received immediate humanitarian aid, which typically includes food packages, essential non-food items, and temporary shelter materials.

In a move to facilitate communication and reintegration, telecommunication companies distributed 390 SIM cards to the returning refugees.

This daily repatriation figure is part of an ongoing trend. Just one day prior, on Monday, 2,827 Afghan migrants were similarly repatriated from Iran and Pakistan, highlighting a consistent pattern of returns. The sustained influx places increasing focus on the capacity of Afghan authorities and aid organizations to provide adequate reception, shelter, and long-term reintegration support for returnees, many of whom face an uncertain future amid the country’s severe economic and humanitarian crisis.

The returns come amid intensified deportation drives and increased pressure on undocumented Afghans in both Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan’s government last year set deadlines for the voluntary return of undocumented immigrants, warning of arrests and forcible expulsion after the cutoff dates. Economic hardships and stringent legal measures in the host countries are cited as primary drivers behind the accelerating return numbers.

 

 

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