As the deportation of migrants continues, 160 families were expelled from Iran and Pakistan on Monday, August 12, returning to Afghanistan under what was described as both “forced and voluntary” circumstances.
The deportations took place through various border crossings in the provinces of Nangarhar, Kandahar, Nimroz, and Herat, according to Taliban-run refugees ministry.
The ministry detailed that 27 families entered Afghanistan through the Torkham crossing, while another 27 families returned via the Spin Boldak border.
Additionally, 53 families crossed back through the Silk Bridge border in Nimroz, and 59 families entered through the Islam Qala crossing in Herat.
This wave of deportations comes amid broader migration trends reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Since 2020, nearly 8 million Afghans have left their country, a statistic the Taliban have disputed. According to the IOM, 85 percent of these migrants have sought refuge in neighboring countries, primarily Iran, while nearly one million have migrated to Europe.
The IOM report also noted that approximately 70 percent of Afghans who migrate to Iran cite a lack of job opportunities as the primary reason for leaving their homeland.
