HERAT, Afghanistan — The Taliban-run Ministry of Refugees reported that at least 2,621 Afghan refugees have either voluntarily returned or been forcibly deported by Iran in a single day.
The ministry stated on X that the returnees included families and underage children, who were introduced to the War Child organization to help locate their families.
The statement noted that these families and individuals returned through the Islam-Qala port in Herat province on Tuesday.
Both Iran and Pakistan, the two neighboring countries hosting millions of Afghan refugees, have recently escalated efforts to expel the refugees. However, human rights watchdogs have repeatedly urged Pakistan and Iran to refrain from deporting Afghan refugees, citing the grave threats they face in the country under the Taliban.
