Tajikistan has confirmed the mass deportation of Afghan migrants, citing security threats, drug trafficking, and other violations, according to a report published by Azerbaijani news outlet Caliber.
In a statement issued on July 19 by the press center of Tajikistan’s Border Forces under the State Committee for National Security, officials acknowledged the removal of “foreign nationals,” though the statement did not explicitly name Afghan citizens.
According to the report, the move comes amid rising political tensions and economic instability in the region. Tajik officials have described the unauthorized or non-compliant entry of foreign nationals — particularly Afghans — as a growing concern.
“In light of the current complex geopolitical situation, a large number of foreign citizens, including Afghan nationals, are illegally present in Tajikistan or have violated residence regulations,” the statement read.
Tajik security officials said recent inspections conducted by border and intelligence forces revealed widespread immigration-related violations. These included suspected involvement in drug trafficking, promotion of extremist ideologies, use of fraudulent documents to obtain refugee status, and efforts to exploit Tajikistan as a transit route for irregular migration.
Citing threats to national security and public order, Tajik authorities said such conditions have necessitated stricter enforcement measures, including the deportation of migrants found to be in breach of the law — among them, Afghan refugees.
In April, approximately 50 Afghan refugees — all registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) — were detained in the city of Vahdat and returned to Afghanistan. Reports indicate that many had been working as taxi drivers. Following summonses to local security offices, their documents were confiscated and they were subsequently transported to the Afghan border in two vehicles.
Separately, in early June, the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees reported that 49 Afghan nationals were expelled from Tajikistan, including 36 with valid residency permits and 13 holding visas. They were returned via the Sher Khan Bandar crossing in Kunduz Province.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan has served as a key destination for Afghan refugees — from the civil war of the 1990s to the U.S. military withdrawal and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
While Tajikistan initially accepted a wave of asylum seekers following the Taliban takeover, it has since adopted a more restrictive stance. The Tajik government has maintained a vocal opposition to Taliban rule and increasingly tightened its immigration policies.
Unofficial estimates suggest that between 10,000 and 13,000 Afghan migrants currently reside in Tajikistan, though exact figures remain unconfirmed. Many are awaiting the processing of asylum claims or resettlement to third countries, including Canada.
