Special News – Islamabad: Tehran and Islamabad are escalating efforts to deport Afghan refugees, citing concerns over illegal immigration and security. Iran reports having expelled approximately 1.1 million Afghan nationals, while Pakistan has deported over 825,000.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni stated that the country has reached its capacity and can no longer accommodate additional Afghan refugees. He emphasized the implementation of stricter border controls to curb illegal crossings. Officials in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province confirmed ongoing deportations, though they did not specify the origin countries of the expelled individuals. Concerns have been raised in Iranian media regarding the infiltration of Taliban fighters.
According to Momeni, about half of those deported by Iran have re-entered the country, highlighting the challenges of border control. The governor of Tehran province reported the detention of 250,000 Afghan refugees this year, with legal action taken against those providing them with employment or housing.
Provincial officials in Iran have also expressed concerns about Afghan citizens attempting to gain residency through marriages to Iranian women, some of which are not legally registered, and the use of forged identification.
Similarly, Pakistan has accelerated its deportation efforts, with the Ministry of Interior issuing a deadline for all Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave by March 31st. After this date, strict measures will be taken against illegal foreign residents, with deportations commencing on April 1st.
The Pakistani government’s actions follow a crackdown on illegal foreigners that began in late 2023. The United Nations reports that approximately 40,000 of the 825,000 who have left Pakistan were forcibly deported.
Public sentiment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, largely supports the government’s decision, with residents citing security concerns and the alleged involvement of Afghan refugees in recent terrorist attacks. They argue that while Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for decades, the current security situation necessitates their return.
Iran, facing economic pressures, has reportedly deported over 1.8 million Afghan refugees between 2022 and 2024 and announced plans to deport an additional 2 million by March 2025.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has appealed to both Iran and Pakistan for a gradual and organized repatriation process, proposing trilateral talks to address the issue. The intensified deportations have created a state of uncertainty for millions of Afghan refugees in both countries.
