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Daily News Egypt
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Iran launches mass deportation of Afghans amid spying allegations
Iran has launched a large-scale campaign of mass deportations and arrests targeting Afghan migrants, following accusations that 'undocumented migrants from Afghanistan spied for Israel' and assisted it with missile launches during a 12-day conflict last June, Bloomberg reported. The allegations were broadcast by Iran's official state broadcasting authority, while the semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that authorities had arrested a number of Afghans on charges of 'espionage and possession of instructional evidence for making drones and explosives'. The United Nations said on Friday that more than one million people have returned to Afghanistan since 1 June, including 627,000 who were deported by the authorities. 'Our teams are on the border receiving and assisting large numbers of exhausted, hungry and terrified people,' Babar Baloch, a spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told the agency in an email. 'The staff and facilities are completely overstretched.' The spying allegations have ignited a wave of violence and harassment targeting the already marginalised Afghan refugee community, which has grown in Iran since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent wars, including the U.S. invasion in 2001. According to the U.N., about 2.6 million officially registered Afghans live in Iran, in addition to an estimated 500,000 others who are undocumented and considered 'illegal' by the Iranian state. Iranian officials estimate the total number of Afghans residing in the country to be around six million people, equivalent to about 7% of the population. They often refer to them as 'guests' who can access housing and basic services, at a time when Iran's economy is under pressure from sanctions. While the Iranian government insists that deportations are limited to Afghans classified as 'illegal', the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent research organisation, has received numerous reports of individuals with valid passports and identity documents being targeted, creating a state of panic and fear. 'Devastating consequences' The United Nations has warned that the deportation campaign will have 'devastating consequences' for Afghanistan as well as for the communities and families being displaced, noting this includes the loss of millions of dollars in remittances sent home annually by Afghans working in Iran. For his part, the prime minister of the Taliban government, Mohammad Hassan Akhund, called on the Iranian authorities to 'handle the deportation process with patience and gradually', according to a statement from his office. This call contrasts with the accounts of several deportees interviewed by Bloomberg, who reported that Iranian authorities were rounding up Afghans from the streets, transferring them to remote detention centres, and then deporting them by bus to the Islam Qala border crossing into Afghanistan's western Herat province. 'Many of them have been away from their homeland for years and have no home or shelter,' said U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, during a visit to the Islam Qala crossing. 'Many people are living at or below the poverty line, so this influx will be a huge burden on the country.' An uncertain future Deportees face the challenge of building a new life in a poor, sanctions-laden Afghanistan that is suffering from multiple crises, including severe food insecurity, water shortages, and an infrastructure devastated by successive wars. Bloomberg noted that many deportees would be vulnerable to targeting by the Taliban if they had worked for the former Afghan government or for American or European institutions. Girls and women will be denied education beyond the sixth grade and are largely excluded from employment opportunities. 'I feel like I've entered the world's largest prison, even though it's my homeland,' Ahmad Saber, a deportee in Herat, told the agency by telephone. 'What will happen to the education of my three daughters and their future?'. Last week, London-based Amnesty International called on Iran to immediately stop the 'forced displacement' of Afghans, asserting that it violates the international principle prohibiting the return of any person to a country where they face the risk of human rights violations. Amnesty said the expulsion of women and girls to Afghanistan puts them at particular risk due to the Taliban's policy of gender-based persecution. Research published on Thursday by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) showed that Afghans forcibly returned to the Taliban-controlled state last year were subjected to serious human rights violations, including torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary arrest, and threats to their personal security. The majority of Afghans who flee to Iran belong to the Hazara minority, who, like most Iranians, are Shi'ite Muslims and have faced violent persecution by the Taliban. Due to strong linguistic and religious ties, Iran has been considered a natural haven for them, and it shares a porous border with Afghanistan stretching for about 1,000 kilometres. However, Iranian authorities impose strict restrictions on the ability of Afghans to integrate, even after decades of residence and starting families in the country. Afghans are often barred from obtaining citizenship unless one parent is an Iranian national. It is difficult for Afghans to enter universities and many professional sectors, with many ending up in temporary jobs or the construction sector.
Saudi Gazette
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
MWL chief meets Afghan PM, stresses scholars' role in dialogue-based solutions
Saudi Gazette report KABUL — Afghan Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund received Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, at the Gul Khana Palace in Kabul on Monday. The two sides discussed several issues of mutual concern, emphasizing the vital role Muslim scholars play in addressing major challenges through meaningful and effective dialogue to achieve tangible, positive outcomes. Dr. Al-Issa arrived in the Afghan capital on Monday for an official visit, during which he is scheduled to meet senior government officials and leading scholars. The MWL delegation was received by a number of high-ranking religious and governmental figures, as well as the Director-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's mission in Kabul. On Tuesday, Dr. Al-Issa also met Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi at the Chahar Chinar Palace within the Prime Minister's meeting was attended by prominent Afghan scholars and featured an in-depth discussion on religious unity and officials praised the MWL's pivotal role in representing the aspirations and concerns of the Muslim world, highlighting its inclusive approach and its unifying platform for scholars from all Islamic meeting also commended two historic documents issued by the MWL from Islam's holiest city, Makkah: the Makkah Declaration, endorsed by over 1,200 muftis and scholars, and the Document on Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought, signed by senior scholars representing the diversity of the Muslim ummah.
Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Afghan PM seeks joint efforts to resolve refugee challenges in meeting with Dar
Listen to article Afghanistan Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund expressed hope that joint efforts between Afghanistan and Pakistan would be effective in addressing existing challenges, particularly in facilitating the dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homeland. This statement was made following a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Afghan PM at the Gulkhana Palace on Thursday. The Afghan PM welcomed Dar and his delegation, expressing hope that the visit would contribute positively to the advancement of bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Read More: Dar hails UAP railway agreement as milestone in regional connectivity He conveyed his greetings and best wishes to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating, 'I am pleased that your previous visit yielded positive results, and I pray that this visit will likewise bear fruitful outcomes.' In reference to the signing of the trilateral agreement among Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, he stated, 'We are exerting our utmost efforts to ensure the success of the Trans-Afghan Project.' He stated that no issue can be resolved through coercion or threats, and prayed for all parties to resolve matters through goodwill, mutual understanding, cooperation, fraternal relations, and principles of good neighbourliness. Today, His Excellency Al-Haj Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met with Mr. Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, along with his accompanying delegation,... — ارگ - ARG (@ARG_1880) July 17, 2025 During the meeting, Dar expressed his appreciation for Afghanistan's warm hospitality and conveyed, on behalf of PM Shehbaz, his greetings and well wishes to the Afghan PM. He further extended an invitation to Afghan PM Akhund to visit Pakistan. He noted that the agreements reached during the recent visit of the Pakistani delegation to Afghanistan had been successfully implemented. Dar expressed satisfaction with the signing of the trilateral agreement between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan under the governance of the Islamic Emirate. On the sidelines of the signing ceremony for the Framework Agreement on Joint Feasibility Study of the UAP Railway Corridor, DPM/FM, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 called on the Afghan Prime Minister, Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund. The two leaders exchanged views on… — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 17, 2025 He further remarked that the Uzbek–Afghan–Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, which connects the three countries, would significantly enhance commercial and economic cooperation compared to previous levels. Dar added that during his recent visit to the People's Republic of China, he had requested the support of the Chinese government for the Trans-Afghan Project. He expressed Pakistan's aspiration for deeper bilateral ties so that future generations of both nations may coexist in an environment of brotherhood and harmony. Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister @MIshaqDar50, along with the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, held a trilateral meeting in Kabul ahead of the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for Uzbek-Afghan-Pak (UAP) Railway project.… — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 17, 2025 A meeting also took place between Dar and Afghan Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, on the sidelines of the signing ceremony for the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study of the UAP Rail Corridor. Both sides engaged in detailed discussions on security matters and reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating regional threats. Dar emphasised the need to address all pressing issues, particularly those related to security and border management, to fully realise the potential of economic cooperation and regional connectivity. Earlier, the DPM attended the signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the UAP Railway Corridor in Kabul. Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul, along with senior-level delegations from both sides. — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 17, 2025 Taking to X, Dar congratulated the leadership of the three countries, saying, "I congratulate the people & governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan on the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the UAP Railway Corridor." He also held a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting reinforced the strong ties between the three nations and their mutual commitment to peace, connectivity, trade, and regional development.
DW
11-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
How 'safe' is Afghanistan under the Taliban? – DW – 06/11/2025
The Islamist militant group ruling Afghanistan has claimed the country is secure. But ordinary Afghans say hunger, poverty and fear are everyday realities. The Taliban are calling on all Afghans who have fled the country to return, claiming Afghanistan is safe. Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the chairman of the Taliban government's Council of Ministers, promised a general amnesty to returnees in his message on Saturday to mark the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. "The perpetrators of the violence are now in power, for example, as head of the Ministry of the Interior. Of course, they now claim that the country is safe," Nilofar Ibrahimi, a former member of Afghanistan's parliament before the Taliban takeover, told DW. Sirajuddin Haqqani serves as the Taliban's interior minister. Haqqani is believed to be responsible for numerous deadly attacks in Afghanistan up until the Taliban takeover of the country in 2021. He is on the FBI's Most Wanted List on suspicion of "coordinating and supporting cross-border attacks against United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan." Haqqani now plays a key role in the Taliban's power structure and is responsible, in particular, for security and police matters. "The Taliban suppress any resistance and intimidate the population," said Ibrahimi, who had to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban took power. "In Badakhshan province, in the northeast of the country, they are taking action against farmers who don't know what else to grow because the Taliban have banned poppy cultivation," she added. In Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, up to 80% of the population works in agriculture. Compared to other crops, opium cultivation was significantly more profitable, even in times of drought, and offered many farmers a secure source of income. On the orders of their supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban have stopped poppy cultivation throughout Afghanistan. Now the farmers are left with nothing and don't know how to feed their families. Afghan farmers fear for livelihoods after Taliban poppy ban To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Poverty in Afghanistan under the Taliban Since the Taliban came to power, more than half of Afghanistan's population has slipped below the poverty line. Millions of people are dependent on humanitarian aid. The country has a population of around 41.5 million. According to the United Nations Population Fund, around 43% are children between the ages of 0 and 14. According to a March 2025 report by UNICEF, every second child in Afghanistan is in urgent need of emergency aid. The number of acutely malnourished children is rising steadily. Many underage girls are forced into marriage because their families no longer know how to feed their children. "These are children who are denied the right to education, personal development and even childlike play. They are also confronted with painful consequences such as premature births, extreme poverty, family violence and social isolation," an activist from an Afghan women's protest movement, Purple Saturday, told DW in an email. For security reasons, she asked not to be named. "And this in a society in which the support structures for women and children have practically collapsed," she added. These local activists try to inform women and young girls through their networks and, for example, teach them privately. Under the Taliban, women are no longer allowed to study at universities. Secondary schools after the fifth grade have been banned for girls. "Now more than ever, we need the genuine and unconditional solidarity of the international community," the activist said. Afghanistan: Women become 'invisible' under Taliban To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Those who fled the Taliban fear returning Many desperate mothers have fled to neighboring countries, including Diba, a mother of three. Before the Taliban takeover, she had worked in the Afghan Ministry of Education and was a co-founder of an institution for the advancement of women, which was later closed by the Taliban. After months under Taliban rule, the women's rights activist was forced to flee to Pakistan. "I sold all my belongings and fled," she told DW, adding she now fears being deported from Pakistan after her visa expired. Afghan refugees are currently being deported from Pakistan en masse. According to estimates, around 200,000 people were deported in April and May alone. "I would rather hide than return to Afghanistan," Diba said. In Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, she would not even be allowed to move freely in society as a woman, let alone find a job to support her family. Her daughters would not have a self-determined life. She hopes to find a way to get herself and her children to a safe third country. Other countries are also planning to deport Afghan refugees. Iran, for example, has announced that it will return four million Afghans to their supposedly "safe home country" this year. In May alone, 15,000 people were deported. "We will welcome them," the Taliban promised. Fear among Afghan refugees as Pakistan steps up deportations To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Parvaneh Alizadeh from DW's Dari/Pashto department contributed to this report This article was originally written in German. Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
The Hindu
07-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
A top Taliban official offers amnesty to Afghans who fled the country and urges them to return
A top Taliban official said on Saturday (JUne 7, 2025) that all Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the former Western-backed government are free to return home, promising they would not be harmed if they come back. Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund made the amnesty offer in his message for the Islamic holiday of Id-ul-Azha, also known as the 'Feast of Sacrifice.' The offer comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sweeping travel ban on 12 countries, including Afghanistan. The measure largely bars Afghans hoping to resettle in the United States permanently as well as those hoping to go to the U.S. temporarily, such as for university study. Mr. Trump also suspended a core refugee program in January, all but ending support for Afghans who had allied with the U.S. and leaving tens of thousands of them stranded. Afghans in neighbouring Pakistan who are awaiting resettlement are also dealing with a deportation drive by the Islamabad government to get them out of the country. Almost a million have left Pakistan since October 2023 to avoid arrest and expulsion. Akhund's holiday message was posted on the social platform X. 'Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland,' he said. 'Nobody will harm them." "Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace,' he added, and instructed officials to properly manage services for returning refugees and to ensure they were given shelter and support. He also used the occasion to criticize the media for making what he said were 'false judgements' about Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and their policies. 'We must not allow the torch of the Islamic system to be extinguished,' he said. 'The media should avoid false judgments and should not minimize the accomplishments of the system. While challenges exist, we must remain vigilant.' The Taliban swept into the capital Kabul and seized most of Afghanistan in a blitz in mid-August 2021 as the U.S. and NATO forces were in the last weeks of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war. The offensive prompted a mass exodus, with tens of thousands of Afghans thronging the airport in chaotic scenes, hoping for a flight out on the U.S. military airlift. People also fled across the border, to neighboring Iran and Pakistan. Among those escaping the new Taliban rulers were also former government officials, journalists, activists, those who had helped the U.S. during its campaign against the Taliban.
