Over 2,000 Afghans Forced to Return from Iran and Pakistan in a Single Day Amid Regional Crackdown

More than 2,000 Afghan refugees were deported from neighboring Iran and Pakistan in a single day this week, according to Taliban officials, marking a continuation of a severe regional crackdown on undocumented migrants.

On Tuesday, Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), shared a report from the High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues on his social media account. The data revealed that 420 families, comprising 2,167 individuals, were forcibly returned to Afghanistan on Monday alone.

The returnees entered the country through five major border crossings: Islam Qala in Herat (with Iran), Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz (with Iran), Spin Boldak in Kandahar (with Pakistan), Bahramcha in Helmand (with Pakistan), and Torkham in Nangarhar (with Pakistan). These entry points have seen a massive surge in traffic since Pakistan and Iran announced and enforced new deadlines for all undocumented foreigners to leave late last year.

A Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

The daily returns are placing immense strain on Afghanistan’s struggling economy and humanitarian aid systems, which are already grappling with severe winter conditions and widespread poverty. According to Fitrat’s report, Afghan authorities provided immediate logistical and aid support to the new arrivals. On Monday:

• 512 returning families (2,777 individuals) were provided with transportation to their provinces of origin.

• 625 families received humanitarian assistance, which typically includes basic food supplies and emergency kits.

• 466 SIM cards were distributed by telecommunications companies to help returnees reconnect.

These figures highlight a rapid, large-scale operation but underscore the challenges of providing lasting shelter, employment, and integration support.

Part of a Sustained and Accelerating Exodus

Monday’s numbers are not an isolated incident but part of a relentless wave. Just the day prior, on Sunday, 3,926 Afghan migrants were repatriated from the two neighboring countries. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been expelled from Pakistan and Iran since late 2023.

Pakistan’s policy, which it frames as a necessary security and economic measure, has drawn criticism from the UN and aid agencies, who warn it is triggering a full-blown humanitarian emergency. Many of those returning left Afghanistan decades ago, and now arrive with minimal belongings to a country facing acute hunger and a frozen banking sector.

The Taliban administration has called for nations to halt deportations and allow migrants to leave voluntarily, citing the dire winter conditions and lack of capacity to absorb the influx. However, neighboring countries appear committed to their enforcement campaigns, signaling that the pace of forced returns is likely to continue, exacerbating Afghanistan’s internal crisis.

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