Latest news with #AmirKhanMuttaqi
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Over 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June ahead of return deadline: IOM
ISLAM QALA: More than 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June, most of them deported, as returns surge ahead of a deadline set by Tehran, the United Nations migration agency said on Monday. The number of returns from Iran rose dramatically in recent weeks. Afghans have reported increased deportations ahead of the July 6 deadline announced by Iran for undocumented Afghans to leave the country. From June 1-28, 233,941 people returned from Iran to Afghanistan, International Organization for Migration spokesman Avand Azeez Agha told AFP, with 131,912 returns recorded in the week of June 21-28 alone. Since January, '691,049 people have returned, 70 percent of whom were forcibly sent back', he added. For several days last week, the number reached 30,000 per day, the IOM said, with numbers expected to increase ahead of the deadline. Afghans spilled into an IOM-run reception centre out of buses arriving back-to-back at the Islam Qala border point in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Saturday. The recent returns have been marked by a sharp increase in the number of families instead of individuals, the UN said, with men, women and children lugging suitcases carrying all their belongings. Many have few assets and few prospects for work, with Afghanistan facing entrenched poverty and steep unemployment. The country is four years into a fragile recovery from decades of war under Taliban authorities, who have called for a 'dignified' return of migrants and refugees from neighbouring countries. Over 200,000 returned to Afghanistan in past nine weeks: interior ministry Kabul's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi raised the Taliban government's concerns in a meeting with Iran's ambassador, according to a statement, saying: 'A coordinated mechanism should be put in place for the gradual return of migrants.' The cash-strapped government faces challenges in integrating the influx of returnees, which has piled on to hundreds of thousands also forced out in recent years from Pakistan – another traditional host of Afghans fleeing conflict and humanitarian crises. Severe international aid cuts have also hamstrung UN and NGO responses, with the IOM saying it was 'only able to assist a fraction of those in need'. 'On some high-volume days, such as recently at Islam Qala, assistance reached as few as three percent of undocumented returnees,' it said in a recent statement. Returnees AFP spoke to in recent days at the border cited mounting pressure by Iranian authorities and increased deportations, with none pointing to the recent Iran-Israel conflict as a spur to leave the country. However, 'regional instability – particularly the fallout from the Israel-Iran conflict – and shifting host country policies have accelerated returns, overwhelming Afghanistan's already fragile humanitarian and development systems', the UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, said in a statement. Samiullah Ahmadi, 28, was seeing his country of origin for the first time when he crossed the border. Unsure of what he would do once he reached the Afghan capital Kabul with his family, he was defiant in response to the pressures to return. 'I was born there (Iran). But the situation for Afghans is such that no matter how good you are or even if you have valid documents, they still don't treat you with respect.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Over 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June ahead of return deadline: IOM - Region
More than 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June, most of them deported, as returns surge ahead of a deadline set by Tehran, the United Nations migration agency said on Monday. The number of returns from Iran rose dramatically in recent weeks. Afghans have reported increased deportations ahead of the July 6 deadline announced by Iran for undocumented Afghans to leave the country. From June 1-28, 233,941 people returned from Iran to Afghanistan, International Organisation for Migration spokesman Avand Azeez Agha told AFP, with 131,912 returns recorded in the week of June 21-28 alone. Since January, "691,049 people have returned, 70 per cent of whom were forcibly sent back", he added. For several days last week, the number reached 30,000 per day, the IOM said, with numbers expected to increase ahead of the deadline. Afghans spilt into an IOM-run reception centre out of buses arriving back-to-back at the Islam Qala border point in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Saturday. The recent returns have been marked by a sharp increase in the number of families instead of individuals, the UN said, with men, women and children lugging suitcases carrying all their belongings. Many have few assets and few prospects for work, with Afghanistan facing entrenched poverty and steep unemployment. The country is four years into a fragile recovery from decades of war under Taliban authorities, who have called for a "dignified" return of migrants and refugees from neighbouring countries. Kabul's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi raised the Taliban government's concerns in a meeting with Iran's ambassador, according to a statement, saying: "A coordinated mechanism should be put in place for the gradual return of migrants." The cash-strapped government faces challenges in integrating the influx of returnees, which has piled on to hundreds of thousands, also forced out in recent years from Pakistan -- another traditional host of Afghans fleeing conflict and humanitarian crises. Severe international aid cuts have also hamstrung UN and NGO responses, with the IOM saying it was "only able to assist a fraction of those in need". "On some high-volume days, such as recently at Islam Qala, assistance reached as few as three per cent of undocumented returnees," it said in a recent statement. Returnees AFP spoke to in recent days at the border cited mounting pressure by Iranian authorities and increased deportations, with none pointing to the recent Iran-Israel conflict as a spur to leave the country. However, "regional instability -- particularly the fallout from the Israel-Iran conflict -- and shifting host country policies have accelerated returns, overwhelming Afghanistan's already fragile humanitarian and development systems", the UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, said in a statement. Samiullah Ahmadi, 28, was seeing his country of origin for the first time when he crossed the border. Unsure of what he would do once he reached the Afghan capital Kabul with his family, he was defiant in response to the pressures to return. "I was born there (Iran). But the situation for Afghans is such that no matter how good you are or even if you have valid documents, they still don't treat you with respect." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
France 24
3 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Over 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June ahead of return deadline: IOM
The number of returns from Iran rose dramatically in recent weeks. Afghans have reported increased deportations ahead of the July 6 deadline announced by Iran for undocumented Afghans to leave the country. From June 1-28, 233,941 people returned from Iran to Afghanistan, International Organization for Migration spokesman Avand Azeez Agha told AFP, with 131,912 returns recorded in the week of June 21-28 alone. Since January, "691,049 people have returned, 70 percent of whom were forcibly sent back", he added. For several days last week, the number reached 30,000 per day, the IOM said, with numbers expected to increase ahead of the deadline. Afghans spilled into an IOM-run reception centre out of buses arriving back-to-back at the Islam Qala border point in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Saturday. The recent returns have been marked by a sharp increase in the number of families instead of individuals, the UN said, with men, women and children lugging suitcases carrying all their belongings. Many have few assets and few prospects for work, with Afghanistan facing entrenched poverty and steep unemployment. The country is four years into a fragile recovery from decades of war under Taliban authorities, who have called for a "dignified" return of migrants and refugees from neighbouring countries. Kabul's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi raised the Taliban government's concerns in a meeting with Iran's ambassador, according to a statement, saying: "A coordinated mechanism should be put in place for the gradual return of migrants." The cash-strapped government faces challenges in integrating the influx of returnees, which has piled on to hundreds of thousands also forced out in recent years from Pakistan -- another traditional host of Afghans fleeing conflict and humanitarian crises. Severe international aid cuts have also hamstrung UN and NGO responses, with the IOM saying it was "only able to assist a fraction of those in need". "On some high-volume days, such as recently at Islam Qala, assistance reached as few as three percent of undocumented returnees," it said in a recent statement. Returnees AFP spoke to in recent days at the border cited mounting pressure by Iranian authorities and increased deportations, with none pointing to the recent Iran-Israel conflict as a spur to leave the country. However, "regional instability -- particularly the fallout from the Israel-Iran conflict -- and shifting host country policies have accelerated returns, overwhelming Afghanistan's already fragile humanitarian and development systems", the UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, said in a statement. Samiullah Ahmadi, 28, was seeing his country of origin for the first time when he crossed the border. Unsure of what he would do once he reached the Afghan capital Kabul with his family, he was defiant in response to the pressures to return. "I was born there (Iran). But the situation for Afghans is such that no matter how good you are or even if you have valid documents, they still don't treat you with respect." © 2025 AFP
Int'l Business Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Over 230,000 Afghans Left Iran In June Ahead Of Return Deadline: IOM
More than 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June, most of them deported, as returns surge ahead of a deadline set by Tehran, the United Nations migration agency said on Monday. The number of returns from Iran rose dramatically in recent weeks. Afghans have reported increased deportations ahead of the July 6 deadline announced by Iran for undocumented Afghans to leave the country. From June 1-28, 233,941 people returned from Iran to Afghanistan, International Organization for Migration spokesman Avand Azeez Agha told AFP, with 131,912 returns recorded in the week of June 21-28 alone. Since January, "691,049 people have returned, 70 percent of whom were forcibly sent back", he added. For several days last week, the number reached 30,000 per day, the IOM said, with numbers expected to increase ahead of the deadline. Afghans spilled into an IOM-run reception centre out of buses arriving back-to-back at the Islam Qala border point in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Saturday. The recent returns have been marked by a sharp increase in the number of families instead of individuals, the UN said, with men, women and children lugging suitcases carrying all their belongings. Many have few assets and few prospects for work, with Afghanistan facing entrenched poverty and steep unemployment. The country is four years into a fragile recovery from decades of war under Taliban authorities, who have called for a "dignified" return of migrants and refugees from neighbouring countries. Kabul's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi raised the Taliban government's concerns in a meeting with Iran's ambassador, according to a statement, saying: "A coordinated mechanism should be put in place for the gradual return of migrants." The cash-strapped government faces challenges in integrating the influx of returnees, which has piled on to hundreds of thousands also forced out in recent years from Pakistan -- another traditional host of Afghans fleeing conflict and humanitarian crises. Severe international aid cuts have also hamstrung UN and NGO responses, with the IOM saying it was "only able to assist a fraction of those in need". "On some high-volume days, such as recently at Islam Qala, assistance reached as few as three percent of undocumented returnees," it said in a recent statement. Returnees AFP spoke to in recent days at the border cited mounting pressure by Iranian authorities and increased deportations, with none pointing to the recent Iran-Israel conflict as a spur to leave the country. However, "regional instability -- particularly the fallout from the Israel-Iran conflict -- and shifting host country policies have accelerated returns, overwhelming Afghanistan's already fragile humanitarian and development systems", the UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, said in a statement. Samiullah Ahmadi, 28, was seeing his country of origin for the first time when he crossed the border. Unsure of what he would do once he reached the Afghan capital Kabul with his family, he was defiant in response to the pressures to return. "I was born there (Iran). But the situation for Afghans is such that no matter how good you are or even if you have valid documents, they still don't treat you with respect." Afghans have reported increased deportations ahead of the July 6 deadline announced by Iran for undocumented Afghans to leave the country AFP Taliban security personnel look on as Afghan refugees arrive at the Islam Qala border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran AFP
United News of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi demands immediate release of frozen funds by US
Kabul, June 24 (UNI) The Afghan Taliban government's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has called on the United States to immediately release the country's foreign reserves, calling the freezing of its assets by the US illegal, reports Tolo News. Muttaqi stressed that the US decision has severely disrupted the natural course of Afghanistan's economic development, impacting its already debilitated treasury. Muttaqi also urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to help Afghanistan battle its socio-economic challenges, and fulfil their humanitarian and religious duties by using all their resources to lift the US sanctions. In his statement, Muttaqi said: "After two decades of war in Afghanistan, the US has frozen the national wealth of the Afghan people, creating major challenges for the country's natural economic growth. 'I once again call on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its member states to ensure the release of Afghanistan's frozen central bank assets without further delay or obstacles." Referring to Afghanistan's strategic location in the heart of Asia, Muttaqi noted that the country has the potential to become a vital hub for trade and transit among Islamic nations. He added: "Afghanistan, recognised as the heart of Asia, is ready to serve as a key gateway for transit, trade, and economic connectivity among Islamic countries. 'We are prepared to play a constructive role within the framework of the OIC Strategic Economic Agenda in areas such as regional connectivity, energy, logistics, and investment.' Citing the importance of boosting domestic production and exports to counter the negative effects caused by the US sanctions, economic analyst Mir Shakir Yaqubi speaking to Tolo News said "In order to mitigate the negative effects of sanctions and global restrictions imposed on Afghanistan, the government must fulfil certain essential responsibilities. One of these is enhancing domestic production capacities. 'Achieving this requires cooperation from neighbouring countries so that Afghanistan can at least play an effective role in transport, transit, and global trade systems. Additionally, alongside boosting production capacities, export volumes must also be increased."
