ISLAMABAD: The Taliban on Wednesday criticized neighboring countries for the mass expulsion of Afghans, as Iran and Pakistan expel foreigners who they say are living there illegally.
The two countries set deadlines and threatened them with arrest or deportation if they did not comply. They deny targeting Afghans, who make up significant numbers in both countries.
Abdul Rahman Rashid, the Taliban governmentâs deputy minister for refugees and repatriation, rebuked host countries for the mass expulsions and described the removal of Afghans as a âserious violation of international norms, humanitarian principles, and Islamic values.â
âThe scale and manner in which Afghan refugees have been forced to return to their homeland is something Afghanistan has never before experienced in its history,â Rashid told a press conference in Kabul.
Nearly 1.8 million Afghans were forcibly returned from Iran in the past three months alone. A further 184,459 were sent back from Pakistan and over 5,000 were deported from Turkiye since the beginning of the year. Additionally, nearly 10,000 Afghan prisoners have been repatriated, mostly from Pakistan.
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said some 6 million Afghan refugees remain overseas.
Natural disasters have swelled Afghanistanâs refugee population. The ministryâs director for policy and planning, Mahmood al Haq Ahadi, said some 13,500 families were internally displaced due to droughts, floods, and storms.
âWhen combined with prior displacements, the total number of internally displaced families in Afghanistan has now reached nearly 2.5 million,â Ahadi said.
The ministry planned to send delegations to hold meetings with host countries focusing on legal support and resolving the challenges faced by Afghan asylum seekers.
âOur goal is to find sustainable solutions through dialogue and cooperation,â Ahadi said.
Humanitarian agencies have warned that the scale and pace of returning Afghans is overwhelming already fragile support systems.
The Taliban criticize neighboring countries for their mass expulsion of Afghans
https://arab.news/czgcs
The Taliban criticize neighboring countries for their mass expulsion of Afghans

- The Taliban governmentâs deputy minister for refugees and repatriation on Wednesday rebuked host countries for the mass expulsions
- Humanitarian agencies warn the scale and pace of returning Afghans is overwhelming fragile support systems