At least 119 Afghan migrant families were deported by Pakistan and Iran on Friday, according to Taliban-run state news agency, which also noted that some families left Iran voluntarily.
The Bakhtar News Agency, operated by the Taliban, reported that the refugees were forcibly deported by Pakistan. According to the agency, nine families returned through the Spin Boldak crossing, while another 12 families returned through the Torkham crossing.
Additionally, at least 54 families returned via the Pul-e-Abrisham border from Iran, and another 44 families returned through the Islam Qala border.
This wave of deportations comes amid reports of mistreatment of Afghan migrants in both Pakistan and Iran. Afghan migrants in Pakistan have reported that the Pakistani police have arrested and deported dozens of Afghan migrants whose visas had expired. Among the deportees were women whose cases were still being processed by Western embassies.
In Iran, videos circulating on social media over the past week show an increase in mistreatment of Afghan migrants, with some Iranian residents taking to the streets in Tehran’s 15th Police District, chanting “Death to Afghan migrants.”
