147 Afghan migrants return home from Iran: Ministry of Refugees

KABUL (Khaama Press): Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation on Saturday announced that 147 Afghan refugees returned to the country from Iran through the Islamqala border in eastern Herat province.
According to Taliban border officials out of 147 returnees, 67 people have been referred to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to receive food and other basic requirements.
Over the past weeks, the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has repeatedly reported on the return of Afghan citizens from Iran. Some of these refugees have been forcefully deported, and others willingly left Iran, according to a statement by Taliban officials.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, thousands of Afghans fled Afghanistan to the neighboring countries fearing persecution and death threats. Most of these people entered host countries through illegal channels, now facing serious problems including forceful deportation and imprisonment.
Over the past months, the Iranian government has taken serious measures to deal with undocumented Afghan refugees in the host country. They have been continuously incarcerating and forcefully deporting Afghan nationals to Afghanistan through Islamqala and Abrishum crossing points.
Meanwhile, as per a new policy introduced by the Pakistani government in the past week, the free movement of Afghan nationals from one city to another has been restricted within the country. It is also stated that upon the expiry of visas, Afghan nationals will have to leave the country, or they will face serious consequences.
Although Iran and Pakistan have hosted millions of Afghans over the past decades, Afghan migrants are currently faced with immense challenges in both countries, with UNHCR having no clear policy regarding Afghan refugees’ legal status in the host countries.