Kabul, Nov 24 — More than 6,500 Afghan refugees were forcibly deported from Iran and Pakistan within 24 hours, a senior Taliban official said on Monday, highlighting the accelerating pace of repatriations amid regional crackdowns on undocumented migrants.
Taliban Deputy Spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat, sharing details from the High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues on X, stated that 1,200 families — totalling 6,532 individuals — returned to Afghanistan on Sunday. He said refugees entered through several major border points, including Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz, Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Bahramcha in Helmand, Islam Qala in Herat, and Torkham in Nangarhar.
According to Pajhwok News, Fitrat noted that 1,492 families comprising 7,695 individuals were transported to their home provinces, while 1,387 refugees received humanitarian support. Additionally, telecommunication companies distributed 1,294 SIM cards to assist newly returned families.
Fitrat further revealed that 11,855 Afghan nationals were forcibly repatriated from Pakistan and Iran on Saturday alone, indicating a surge in mass deportations.
Meanwhile, resistance to the deportation drive is growing. Last week, nearly 400 Afghan nationals — including artists and their families — filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court seeking protection from forced return. The petitioners argued that returning to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan would expose them to persecution, citing the regime’s hostility toward music, arts, and cultural activities.
The petition, as reported by Pakistan’s Dawn, included prominent Afghan artist Zakiya Dunya Ghazal and others who fled to Peshawar for safety. They asked the court to uphold the principle of non-refoulement and referenced a December 13, 2024, High Court ruling that previously granted relief to artists and transgender individuals.
Pakistan’s Federal Interior Ministry, Cabinet Division, NADRA, Immigration and Passport Directorate, FIA, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities were named as respondents.
The petitioners argued that the deportation policy violates UNHCR agreements and Pakistan’s international obligations, urging the court to halt the forced repatriations and allow them refugee status.
