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India Today
20 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
UN says over 1.2 million Afghans forced to return from Iran, Pakistan in 2025
More than 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from both Iran and Pakistan so far this year, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported on Saturday, cautioning that all these repatriations could destabilize Afghanistan's already fragile humanitarian mass returns stem from crackdowns in both Iran and Pakistan that target illegal migrants, and Afghan nationals bear the brunt of the campaigns. Both nations' officers claim removals involve any illegally living foreigners. Since the count of Afghans who are being deported is disproportionate, it has raised alarm within rights organizations as well as within the to UNHCR data, more than half of the returnees came out of Iran, which had imposed a March 20 deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave voluntarily or face forcible expulsion. Since then, Iran has deported over 366,000 Afghans, including registered refugees and those in vulnerable, refugee-like conditions. Tensions related to Iran's brief conflict with Israel have also fueled the rise in deportations. The highest number of returns in a single day was recorded on June 26, when more than 36,000 Afghans crossed back into more than half the Afghan population dependent on humanitarian aid, the influx of returnees is straining resources. Aid agencies have been scaling back operations due to international funding cuts and objections to Taliban governance, undermining access to critical services like healthcare and Attorney General, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, reiterated on Saturday that undocumented foreigners must leave the country promptly or face legal consequences. 'Foreign nationals, especially our Afghan brothers and sisters, should help ensure that those staying illegally exit Iran as soon as possible,' he told state media. Iranian officials estimate that around 2.5 million of the six million Afghans in the country are Reza Bikdeli, Iran's top diplomat in Kabul, visited the Dogharoun border crossing to oversee the repatriation process and pledged support in facilitating returns. Meanwhile, growing domestic resentment in Iran has led to increased scrutiny of Afghan migrants, with some citizens accusing them of espionage linked to recent Pakistan, authorities have announced plans to expel up to 3 million Afghans in 2025, setting a June 30 deadline for 1.3 million to leave voluntarily. Islamabad, like Tehran, insists the removals are based on legal status rather than the Afghan side, the Taliban have issued reassurances to returning citizens. During the recent Eid Al-Adha holiday, Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund called on Afghans who fled after the fall of the Western-backed government to return, promising their safety. 'Come back to your ancestral land and live in peace,' he posted on social Taliban ministerial delegation recently visited Herat province to meet some of the returnees, vowing swift action to address their immediate needs and facilitate reintegration. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said efforts are underway to ensure returnees receive essential services and is already grappling with deepening poverty, political isolation, and a worsening humanitarian crisis, and the return of over a million people threatens to push the country's limited resources to the brink of collapse.- EndsWith inputs from agenciesMust Watch
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
At least 1.2 million Afghans forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, says UN
At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, the UN refugee agency said Saturday, warning that repatriations on a massive scale have the potential to destabilize the fragile situation in Afghanistan. Iran and Pakistan in 2023 launched separate campaigns to expel foreigners they said were living in the country illegally. They set deadlines and threatened them with deportation if they didn't leave. The two governments deny targeting Afghans, who have fled their homeland to escape war, poverty or Taliban rule. The U.N. high commissioner for refugees said that of the 1.2 million returning Afghans, more than half had come from Iran following a March 20 government deadline for them to leave voluntarily or face expulsion. Iran has deported more than 366,000 Afghans this year, including refugees and people in refugee-like situations, according to the agency. Iran's 12-day war with Israel also has driven departures. The highest number of returns was on June 26, when 36,100 Afghans crossed the border in one day. 'Afghan families are being uprooted once again, arriving with scant belongings, exhausted, hungry, scared about what awaits them in a country many of them have never even set foot in,' said Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in the Afghan capital, Kabul. He said women and girls are particularly worried, as they fear the restrictions on freedom of movement and basic rights such as education and employment. More than half Afghanistan relies on humanitarian assistance. But opposition to Taliban policies and widespread funding cuts are worsening the situation, with aid agencies and nongovernmental organizations cutting back on basic services like education and health care. Iran urges foreigners to leave quickly Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, said Saturday that foreigners in the country illegally should leave as soon as possible or face prosecution, state media reported. 'Foreign nationals, especially brothers and sisters from Afghanistan whom we have hosted for years, help us (so) that illegal individuals leave Iran in the shortest period,' the official IRNA news agency quoted Azad as saying. Iranian authorities said in April that out of more than 6 million Afghans, up to 2.5 million were in the country illegally. Iran's top diplomat in Kabul, Ali Reza Bikdeli, visited the Dogharoun border crossing with Afghanistan and promised to facilitate the repatriation of Afghans, state TV reported. Iranians have complained about the increasing presence of Afghans in recent months, with some accusing them of spying for Israel since the outbreak of the war. The Taliban pledge amnesty and helpEarlier this month, on the religious festival of Eid Al-Adha, the Taliban prime minister said all Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the former Western-backed government were free to return, promising they would be safe. 'Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland,' Mohammad Hassan Akhund said in a message on X. 'Nobody will harm them. Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace.' On Saturday, a high-ranking ministerial delegation traveled to western Herat province to meet some of the Afghans returning from Iran. The officials pledged 'swift action to address the urgent needs of the returnees and ensure that essential services and support are provided to ease their reintegration,' according to a statement from the Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat on X. People get food, temporary accommodation and access to health care upon their return, said Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the director of information and culture in Herat. Everyone receives 2,000 afghanis, or $28.50, in cash and is taken free of charge to their home provinces. 'Upon arrival, they are housed in designated camps until permanent housing is arranged, as residential townships are currently under construction in every province for them,' he told The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have set a June 30 deadline for some 1.3 million Afghans to leave. Pakistan aims to expel a total of 3 million Afghans this year.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
At least 1.2 mn Afghans forced to return from Iran, Pakistan this year: UN
At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, the UN refugee agency said Saturday, warning that repatriations on a massive scale have the potential to destabilise the fragile situation in Afghanistan. Iran and Pakistan in 2023 launched separate campaigns to expel foreigners they said were living in the country illegally. They set deadlines and threatened them with deportation if they didn't leave. The two governments deny targeting Afghans, who have fled their homeland to escape war, poverty or Taliban rule. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that of the 1.2 million returning Afghans, more than half had come from Iran following a March 20 government deadline for them to leave voluntarily or face expulsion. Iran has deported more than 366,000 Afghans this year, including refugees and people in refugee-like situations, according to the agency. Iran's 12-day war war with Israel also has driven departures. The highest number of returns was on June 26, when 36,100 Afghans crossed the border in one day. Afghan families are being uprooted once again, arriving with scant belongings, exhausted, hungry, scared about what awaits them in a country many of them have never even set foot in, said Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in the Afghan capital, Kabul. He said women and girls are particularly worried, as they fear the restrictions on freedom of movement and basic rights such as education and employment. More than half of Afghanistan relies on humanitarian assistance. But opposition to Taliban policies and widespread funding cuts are worsening the situation, with aid agencies and nongovernmental organisations cutting back on basic services like education and health care. Iran urges foreigners to leave quickly Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, said Saturday that foreigners in the country illegally should leave as soon as possible or face prosecution, state media reported. Foreign nationals, especially brothers and sisters from Afghanistan whom we have hosted for years, help us (so) that illegal individuals leave Iran in the shortest period, the official IRNA news agency quoted Azad as saying. Iranian authorities said in April that out of more than 6 million Afghans, up to 2.5 million were in the country illegally. Iran's top diplomat in Kabul, Ali Reza Bikdeli, visited the Dogharoun border crossing with Afghanistan and promised to facilitate the repatriation of Afghans, state TV reported. Iranians have complained about the increasing presence of Afghans in recent months, with some accusing them of spying for Israel since the outbreak of the war. The Taliban pledge amnesty and help Earlier this month, on the religious festival of Eid Al-Adha, the Taliban prime minister said all Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the former Western-backed government were free to return, promising they would be safe. Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland, Mohammad Hassan Akhund said in a message on X. Nobody will harm them. Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace." On Saturday, the Taliban said a high-ranking ministerial delegation traveled to western Herat province to meet some of the Afghans returning from Iran. The officials pledged swift action to address the urgent needs of the returnees and ensure that essential services and support are provided to ease their reintegration, according to a statement from the Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat on X. Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have set a June 30 deadline for some 1.3 million Afghans to leave. Pakistan aims to expel a total of 3 million Afghans this year.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
At least 1.2 million Afghans forced to return from Iran, Pakistan in 2025: UN
At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, the U.N. refugee agency said Saturday, warning that repatriations on a massive scale have the potential to destabilize the fragile situation in Afghanistan. Pakistani authorities have set a June 30 deadline for some 1.3 million Afghans to leave. Pakistan aims to expel a total of 3 million Afghans this year.(AFP) Iran and Pakistan in 2023 launched separate campaigns to expel foreigners they said were living in the country illegally. They set deadlines and threatened them with deportation if they didn't leave. The two governments deny targeting Afghans, who have fled their homeland to escape war, poverty or Taliban rule. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said that of the 1.2 million returning Afghans, more than half had come from Iran following a March 20 government deadline for them to leave voluntarily or face expulsion. Iran has deported more than 366,000 Afghans this year, including refugees and people in refugee-like situations, according to the agency. Iran's 12-day war war with Israel also has also driven departures. The highest number of returns was on June 26, when 36,100 Afghans crossed the border in one day. 'Afghan families are being uprooted once again, arriving with scant belongings, exhausted, hungry, scared about what awaits them in a country many of them have never even set foot in,' said Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in the Afghan capital, Kabul. He said women and girls are particularly worried, as they fear the restrictions on freedom of movement and basic rights such as education and employment. More than half of Afghanistan relies on humanitarian assistance. But opposition to Taliban policies and widespread funding cuts are worsening the situation, with aid agencies and nongovernmental organizations cutting back on basic services like education and health care. Iran urges foreigners to leave quickly Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, said Saturday that foreigners in the country illegally should leave as soon as possible or face prosecution, state media reported. 'Foreign nationals, especially brothers and sisters from Afghanistan whom we have hosted for years, help us (so) that illegal individuals leave Iran in the shortest period,' the official IRNA news agency quoted Azad as saying. Iranian authorities said in April that out of more than 6 million Afghans, up to 2.5 million were in the country illegally. Iran's top diplomat in Kabul, Ali Reza Bikdeli, visited the Dogharoun border crossing with Afghanistan and promised to facilitate the repatriation of Afghans, state TV reported. Iranians have complained about the increasing presence of Afghans in recent months, with some accusing them of spying for Israel since the outbreak of the war. The Taliban pledge amnesty and help Earlier this month, on the religious festival of Eid Al-Adha, the Taliban prime minister said all Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the former Western-backed government were free to return, promising they would be safe. 'Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland,' Mohammad Hassan Akhund said in a message on X. 'Nobody will harm them. Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace." On Saturday, the Taliban said a high-ranking ministerial delegation traveled to western Herat province to meet some of the Afghans returning from Iran. The officials pledged 'swift action to address the urgent needs of the returnees and ensure that essential services and support are provided to ease their reintegration,' according to a statement from the Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat on X. Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have set a June 30 deadline for some 1.3 million Afghans to leave. Pakistan aims to expel a total of 3 million Afghans this year.
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
'Exhausted, hungry, scared': Over 1.2 million Afghans forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, says UN
Pakistani authorities have set a June 30 deadline for some 1.3 million Afghans to leave. Pakistan aims to expel a total of 3 million Afghans this year. read more More than 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan so far this year, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Saturday, warning that mass expulsions risk destabilising Afghanistan's already fragile humanitarian situation. Many of those returning have never lived under Taliban rule and now arrive to uncertain futures, often with little more than the clothes on their backs. The wave of repatriations follows separate campaigns by Tehran and Islamabad to crack down on undocumented migrants, which have primarily impacted Afghan nationals. While both governments insist they are targeting all foreigners residing illegally in their territories, the scale and speed of Afghan deportations has raised concerns among rights groups and the UN. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to UNHCR, over half of the returnees came from Iran after its government imposed a March 20 deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave voluntarily or face forced removal. Iran alone has expelled more than 366,000 Afghans this year, including recognised refugees and those in refugee-like conditions. Tensions linked to Iran's brief war with Israel have also contributed to the uptick in returns, with the single highest number recorded on June 26, when over 36,000 Afghans crossed the border back into their homeland in one day. 'Afghan families are being uprooted once again, arriving with scant belongings, exhausted, hungry, scared about what awaits them in a country many of them have never even set foot in,' said Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in the Afghan capital, Kabul. He said women and girls are particularly worried, as they fear the restrictions on freedom of movement and basic rights such as education and employment. More than half of Afghanistan relies on humanitarian assistance. But opposition to Taliban policies and widespread funding cuts are worsening the situation, with aid agencies and nongovernmental organizations cutting back on basic services like education and health care. Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, said Saturday that foreigners in the country illegally should leave as soon as possible or face prosecution, state media reported. 'Foreign nationals, especially brothers and sisters from Afghanistan whom we have hosted for years, help us (so) that illegal individuals leave Iran in the shortest period,' the official IRNA news agency quoted Azad as saying. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iranian authorities said in April that out of more than 6 million Afghans, up to 2.5 million were in the country illegally. Iran's top diplomat in Kabul, Ali Reza Bikdeli, visited the Dogharoun border crossing with Afghanistan and promised to facilitate the repatriation of Afghans, state TV reported. Iranians have complained about the increasing presence of Afghans in recent months, with some accusing them of spying for Israel since the outbreak of the war. Earlier this month, on the religious festival of Eid Al-Adha, the Taliban prime minister said all Afghans who fled the country after the collapse of the former Western-backed government were free to return, promising they would be safe. 'Afghans who have left the country should return to their homeland,' Mohammad Hassan Akhund said in a message on X. 'Nobody will harm them. Come back to your ancestral land and live in an atmosphere of peace.' On Saturday, the Taliban said a high-ranking ministerial delegation traveled to western Herat province to meet some of the Afghans returning from Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The officials pledged 'swift action to address the urgent needs of the returnees and ensure that essential services and support are provided to ease their reintegration,' according to a statement from the Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat on X. With inputs from agencies
