Taliban Pushes Iran For Afghan Refugee Return Deal

Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, met Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Iran’s South Asia Director General, to address Afghan refugees in Iran.

Kabir proposed a joint session with Iranian officials to negotiate their return, according to a Saturday statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees, which highlighted discussions on bilateral ties and repatriation.

Kabir noted frequent Iranian visits to Kabul as a sign of Tehran’s interest in friendly relations, urging Iran to allow Afghan refugees more time for voluntary return. He revealed plans for a mechanism to provide legal documents to Afghans whose residency in Iran has expired, ensuring lawful stays.

Bahrami invited Kabir to Tehran, suggesting a pre-visit roadmap to enhance progress on a mutual repatriation agreement.

Bahrami claimed 8 million Afghans reside in Iran, with 4 million lacking legal documents or overstaying permits. The Iranian Embassy in Kabul previously stated the Taliban agreed to repatriate undocumented migrants.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported over 1.2 million Afghans returned from Iran in 2024, with 67 percent forcibly deported. Nader Yarahmadi, head of Iran’s Migration Center, earlier said over 3 million Afghans were deported in the past three years.