report in The Khaama Press online, Oct 25, 2023
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of Afghanistan has confirmed the ongoing deportation of Afghan citizens from Pakistan and Iran, revealing that over 8,000 Afghan migrants have been forcefully sent back from these two countries.

On Thursday, through a press release, the Ministry announced that approximately 5,196 Afghan migrants were forcibly returned to Afghanistan as of October 24 through the Turghandi and Spin Boldak border crossings.

According to officials at the border authorities in Nangarhar and Kandahar, 676 families, comprising 4,606 individuals, were forcibly returned to Afghanistan through the Turghandi crossing. Additionally, 209 other returning families, consisting of 1,190 individuals, were repatriated via the Spin Boldak border.

Meanwhile, the border official in Islam Qala continues to report that approximately 3,310 Afghan migrants have voluntarily and involuntarily returned from Iran as of Monday, October 23rd.

Among these individuals, both families and singles, 344 have been identified as vulnerable and in need of assistance, and they have been referred to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for support.

Pakistan and Iran had previously made public their plans to expel Afghan nationals lacking proper legal documentation upon entry into their territories. This announcement stirred significant national and international responses.

Despite the notable reactions generated by these decisions, the repatriation of Afghan citizens from Pakistan and Iran remains an ongoing process.

The determination of these countries to enforce deportation policies underscores the complexities surrounding the status of Afghan migrants and their place in the region’s broader immigration discourse.
https://www.khaama.com/8000-afghan-migrants-forced-to-return-from-pakistan-and-iran/