KABUL, Afghanistan — An Iranian delegation led by Askar Jalalian, Iran’s Deputy Minister for Human Rights and International Affairs, met with the Taliban’s minister of refugees in Kabul on Thursday to discuss measures to prevent the forced deportation of Afghan refugees.
In a statement, the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation noted that the meeting addressed a range of issues, including the conditions of Afghan refugees in Iran, the transfer of prisoners, treatment of migrants, prevention of illegal migration, establishing joint strategies, and resolving issues faced by Afghan consulates in Iran.
Taliban Minister of Refugees Khalil Rahman Haqqani expressed gratitude to Iran for hosting Afghan refugees over the years and urged Iranian authorities to exercise greater patience regarding Afghan migrants. “Unilateral decisions on refugees are ineffective and harm their rights,” Haqqani said. “A joint committee and mechanism should be established to address these issues collaboratively.”
The Iranian delegation arrived in Kabul on Wednesday, with the primary objective of discussing the repatriation of Afghan prisoners from Iran and the return of Iranian prisoners from Afghanistan.
Iran currently hosts millions of Afghan refugees, many of whom fled after the fall of Afghanistan’s previous government and now lack legal documentation to remain in Iran.
In recent years, Afghan refugees in Iran have voiced concerns over mistreatment by Iranian authorities, with calls for improved protections and treatment of Afghan nationals in the country.
