Over 2,000 Afghan Migrants Return From Iran & Pakistan

The Taliban's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced that more than 2,000 migrants have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan.

In a statement on its website, the ministry said that 1,664 of these individuals returned from Iran, while the rest came back from Pakistan.

The Taliban did not clarify whether these migrants returned voluntarily or were expelled.

In recent days, reports have emerged about the poor conditions faced by Afghan migrants in Iran. According to these reports, some migrants have been subjected to attacks and harassment by Iranian police and citizens on the streets.

A former Afghan security forces member, who sought refuge in Iran out of fear of Taliban retaliation, told Afghanistan International that Afghan migrants, especially former military personnel, are under pressure.

He added that Iranian police are arresting migrants with legal documents and taking them to camps. He said that Afghan military personnel are under pressure both in Afghanistan and in Iran.

Another Afghan migrant in Iran sent a video to Afghanistan International saying, "We came to Iran to escape the misery in Afghanistan. Now, Iranian police are searching for us street by street."

In a voice message, an Afghan migrant said that migrants in Iran face "insult, humiliation, and the threat of deportation" every moment.

In recent days, following reports of the death of an Iranian citizen after a confrontation with three Afghan workers, there have been reports of attacks on Afghan migrants in District 15 of Tehran.

Some Afghan migrants who contacted Afghanistan International said that they are scared to leave their homes for work or shopping. Additionally, distressing images received by us reportedly show severe injuries resulting from attacks on the migrants.