The Taliban has requested Pakistan and Iran to manage Afghan refugee returns cautiously due to economic challenges in Afghanistan, advocating for organized repatriation processes instead of forced deportation. Over 2.7 million Afghans have been sent back since the end of the U.S. war, prompting calls for discussions to establish formal return mechanisms. Human rights groups stress the need to protect the rights of these refugees amid ongoing economic turmoil in Afghanistan.
On Thursday, the Taliban urged neighboring nations Pakistan and Iran to exercise patience regarding the return of Afghan nationals, emphasizing the necessity for an organized repatriation process due to Afghanistan’s current economic challenges. Since the end of the U.S.-led war in August 2021, more than 2.7 million Afghans have been returned from these countries.
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s acting minister for refugees and repatriation affairs, met with representatives from both Pakistan and Iran in Kabul. In a social media statement, Kabir requested that host countries show understanding towards refugees, advocating for an organized method of return rather than forced deportation due to the lack of suitable conditions in Afghanistan.
The urgency manifested in 2023, as Pakistan initiated a campaign to remove illegal foreign nationals, resulting in the departure of over 825,000 Afghans, according to the U.N. High Commission for Refugees. Despite this, only about 40,000 had been formally deported, with Pakistan enacting a multistage plan to target nearly 3 million Afghans via various phases of the repatriation.
Pakistan extended its Proof of Registration (POR) cards for Afghan refugees until June 30, 2025, indicating that those holding these documents would not be immediately expelled. Concurrently, Iran has deported upwards of 1.8 million Afghans between 2022 and 2024, driven by economic factors, and plans to remove an additional 2 million by March 2025.
Kabir emphasized the need for a deliberate approach to facilitate safe returns, advocating for bilateral discussions to establish comprehensive mechanisms. Pakistan’s diplomatic representative acknowledged that refugees should not be treated as political leverage, highlighting a shared future with Afghanistan.
Similarly, the Iranian ambassador advocated for legal documentation for Afghan refugees residing in Iran. Meanwhile, human rights advocates continue to urge Iran and Pakistan to protect the rights of Afghan refugees, stressing that forced returns to Afghanistan, which is grappling with severe economic difficulties and women’s rights violations, must be avoided.
The Taliban’s call for Pakistan and Iran to manage the return of Afghan refugees reflects ongoing economic challenges within Afghanistan. Both neighboring countries are dealing with significant Afghan populations, with needs for organized repatriation processes to prevent forced deportations. Human rights advocates emphasize the importance of safeguarding the rights of these individuals to prevent exacerbating Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
