At least 150 Afghan migrant families were deported by Iran and Pakistan and returned to Afghanistan on Friday, according to reports from the Taliban-run Bakhtar News Agency. The agency noted that while some of the refugees were forcibly deported, others left Iran voluntarily.
Of the deported families, 31 crossed into Afghanistan via the Torkham crossing, and 14 returned through the Spin Boldak crossing—both from Pakistan. An additional 48 families entered the country through the Silk Bridge border in Nimroz province, and 57 families returned via the Islam Qala border from Iran.
The deportations come amid growing concerns about the mistreatment of Afghan refugees in both Pakistan and Iran. Human rights organizations have urged these countries to adhere to international laws in their treatment of migrants.
According to the United Nations, Pakistan alone has deported approximately 600,000 Afghan migrants since November 2023, raising alarm among international observers about the humanitarian implications of these actions.
