Over one million Afghan refugees were deported by Iranian authorities in one year, highlighting escalating enforcement of strict immigration policies.

Iranian media, citing government officials, reported that over 1.12 million Afghan migrants were deported from Iran during the solar year March 2024–March 2025, as part of Tehran’s intensified policy to curb illegal immigration.

Saeed Montazerolmahdi, spokesperson for Iran’s law enforcement command, announced on Saturday that the expulsions were carried out under a nationwide crackdown targeting undocumented foreign nationals. He said the operations became more intensive throughout the year.

Earlier, Ahmadreza Radan, Iran’s police chief, had set a target to deport two million undocumented migrants by the end of March 2024. Though that goal was not met, the number deported still reflects a massive scale of forced repatriation.

Authorities launched widespread raids across migrant-populated areas, conducted home inspections, and used key border crossings like Islam Qala in Herat and Pul-e-Abrisham in Nimroz for deportations.

This mass deportation marks one of the largest waves of forced returns in Iran’s recent history. It comes at a time when Afghanistan remains gripped by economic instability, insecurity, and soaring unemployment.

The return of the Taliban to power in August 2021 triggered a renewed surge in Afghan migration to neighboring countries, especially Iran and Pakistan. Iran, long a host to millions of Afghan refugees, now faces mounting economic and security pressures, prompting stricter immigration enforcement.

Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the humanitarian consequences of these expulsions. With limited reintegration support and ongoing crises in Afghanistan, the expelled migrants are at risk of further displacement, poverty, and abuse.

UN experts have called for an immediate halt to the deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, stressing that such actions violate international human rights and refugee laws.

On Friday, April 4, the UN issued a press statement emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions for Afghan migrants and greater support from the international community.

The statement urged Pakistan to immediately stop internal relocations, deportations, detentions, threats, and other forms of pressure on Afghan migrants.

Experts expressed concern about the current situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, particularly highlighting the vulnerabilities of children—especially unaccompanied minors—who are at risk of human trafficking, early marriage, and abuse. Disabled individuals, the elderly, and other marginalized groups are also at heightened risk.

Additionally, the reduction in international aid has weakened humanitarian organizations and the Taliban regime’s capacity to assist returning migrants.

Meanwhile, the ongoing forced deportations of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan have sparked serious reactions. Recently, the Pakistani police reported the arrest of over 16,000 Afghan migrants with citizen cards (ACC) in Karachi, with more than 150 migrants detained so far.

Pakistan’s decision to continue deportations is affecting over 800,000 Afghan refugees, including those with citizenship cards, as well as undocumented migrants. The situation remains tense, and there are growing concerns about the safety and well-being of those involved.

Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council to take action against the growing illicit arms trade flourishing in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has urged the United Nations Security Council to halt terrorists’ access to weapons in Afghanistan. The request comes amid rising concerns about the proliferation of arms to various militant groups.

Pakistani media reported on Saturday, April 5, that weapons have been supplied to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army, and the Brigades of Majid from Afghanistan. These groups are actively involved in insurgencies across Pakistan.

Sayed Atif Reza, a representative from Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, raised alarms at the UN Security Council about the increase in arms trafficking. He urged the council to take serious measures to curb the growing black market for weapons in Afghanistan.

The report, titled “Documenting Access to Weapons in Afghanistan,” sheds light on the continued arms trafficking in the region. It shows that weapons from the Soviet era and NATO are easily available in informal markets, posing a significant security threat.

The situation in Pakistan has been further complicated by the growing tension between the Taliban and Pakistan. Increased cross-border violence has led to a sharp rise in casualties, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. March recorded the highest number of casualties in a decade, raising alarms about the stability of the region.

The escalation of militant activity in these regions has made security operations more challenging for Pakistani authorities. The Taliban’s growing influence in Afghanistan, coupled with its support for insurgents targeting Pakistan, is contributing to the destabilization of the border areas.

This ongoing conflict is straining Pakistan’s security forces, as the influx of weapons from Afghanistan exacerbates the situation. The situation calls for urgent international cooperation to curb the illegal arms trade and address the rising militant threats to Pakistan’s stability.