HT Digital,
Islamabad, May 1: Over 2000 Afghan migrants have been deported back to Afghanistan by Pakistan and Iran, as reported by TOLOnews, citing the Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.
The Ministry revealed that on Monday, 260 Afghan migrants were expelled by Pakistani authorities and returned to Kabul. On the same day, Khaama Press reported that 2,368 Afghan migrants crossed the Torkham border in Nangarhar province to re-enter Afghanistan from Iran.
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Officials confirmed that the returnees entered Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province. The Ministry of Refugees, now under Taliban control, announced the repatriation of migrants from Iran amidst rising concerns over the increased expulsion of Afghan migrants from neighbouring countries.
Previously, Amnesty International had criticised Pakistan’s plan to deport Afghan migrants, stating that it violates international human rights and refugee laws. Reacting to this, the Taliban’s acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs urged Pakistan to resolve the Afghan migrant issue through bilateral agreements.
The process of expelling undocumented Afghan migrants from Pakistan began in November 2023, attracting criticism from human rights organisations and the Taliban. Nevertheless, Pakistani authorities insist that the action is not aimed at any specific ethnic group.
