KABUL, Afghanistan — At least 3,255 Afghan migrants were deported by Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday, July 2, according to the Taliban-run Ministry of Refugees.
Of these, 908 were deported by Pakistan, while the rest either returned voluntarily or were expelled by Iran, the ministry reported.
This mass deportation coincides with Pakistan’s second phase of expelling undocumented immigrants, a process expected to affect 800,000 migrants, the majority of whom are Afghans.
According to the ministry’s statement, 428 people entered Afghanistan through the Torkham crossing, and another 480 came via Spin Boldak. Additionally, 2,347 migrants entered Afghanistan from Iran through the Silk Bridge border in Nimroz.
Both Iran and Pakistan have consistently expressed concerns over the presence of Afghan migrants within their borders, urging the United Nations and other organizations to facilitate their return to Afghanistan.
Since October 2023, Pakistan has deported over 639,000 undocumented Afghan migrants, according to figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
