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Khalilzad condemns Iran’s ‘brutal’ mass deportation of Afghan migrants
Migrants are being pulled off the streets without notice, loaded onto buses, and abandoned at the Afghan border, Khalilzad said.
Former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has sharply criticized Iran’s ongoing mass deportation of Afghan migrants, describing the expulsions as “brutal” and warning of the severe humanitarian consequences facing Afghanistan.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Khalilzad said he had received alarming firsthand reports from humanitarian workers operating near the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, where thousands of Afghans are being forcibly repatriated by Iranian authorities.
Migrants are being pulled off the streets without notice, loaded onto buses, and abandoned at the Afghan border, Khalilzad said.
“When migrants attempt to leave peacefully and with their families, they are told their relatives will be deported separately and that they must find them on their own,” Khalilzad said.
He urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to scale back the pace of deportations and coordinate repatriation efforts with Afghan civil organizations and international aid agencies, including the UN and NGOs, to ensure that returns are conducted in a humane and orderly manner.
The Iranian deportations come amid mounting economic and security pressures inside Iran, where Afghan refugees – many undocumented – have long made up one of the region’s largest displaced populations.
Human rights organizations report that hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been expelled from Iran this year, straining the already fragile humanitarian infrastructure in western Afghanistan.
Khalilzad meanwhile warned Tuesday that many of these deportees have no homes or family networks to return to, having fled years earlier due to war and drought.
Analysts have meanwhile stated that Afghanistan is in no position to absorb returnees at this scale and speed, especially as the country is already contending with a humanitarian crisis.
Iran has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades, many of whom fled conflict during the Soviet occupation in the 1980s and, more recently, during the two-decade U.S. war in Afghanistan. While some refugees have legal status, the majority remain undocumented and vulnerable to arrest, detention, and deportation.
In recent years, Iran’s economic crisis – worsened by U.S. sanctions, inflation, and internal political unrest – has fueled anti-migrant sentiment.
Khalilzad’s statement adds to a growing number of international calls urging Iran to reconsider its expulsion policy. Aid groups working on the ground say they are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of returnees, many of whom arrive without documentation, money, or access to shelter or medical care.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) have repeatedly called for greater coordination and for host countries to avoid forced returns unless conditions inside Afghanistan allow for safe reintegration.
With Afghanistan still reeling from economic collapse, international isolation, and the long-term effects of war, observers say the country cannot manage mass returns without coordinated international assistance.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake’s epicenter was reported in Jurm district of Badakhshan province, with a depth of 208.3 kilometers.
So far, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage following the tremor.
Shahabuddin Delawar, Head of the Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities, says Afghanistan has achieved security, unified governance, brotherhood, and progress for the first time in 47 years under the administration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
Speaking at a meeting in Kabul on Saturday, Delawar said Afghanistan had lacked a unified system over the past four decades, but added that with the return of the Islamic Emirate, the issue has now been resolved.
Referring to Ashura commemorations held on Friday, he said the occasion was observed peacefully across the country under full security.
Delawar also urged exiled Afghan politicians to return, saying the commission was established to serve Afghans and address the concerns of returning figures. He added that any legal disputes involving returnees would be handled exclusively through the commission.
He further said the Islamic Emirate has expanded treatment centers and intensified anti-narcotics efforts since regaining power, claiming this has led to a significant decline in drug addiction.
Addressing the issue of international legitimacy, Delawar said he understood why the United States has not recognized the Islamic Emirate, arguing that Washington suffered a defeat in Afghanistan that it cannot easily overlook.
“They have suffered a major defeat that they cannot forget; if they recognize us, they will face questions from their own people,” Delawar said.
The European Union says it is implementing hundreds of millions of euros in projects to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Afghanistan and help expand economic opportunities across the country.
Speaking to Ariana News, EU Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul, Veronika Boskovic Pohar, said the programs are aimed at creating jobs for skilled workers, women, youth, and returnees, while also strengthening the private sector. She added that alongside international support, Afghan authorities also have a role in facilitating economic growth.
According to Pohar, the EU is currently implementing projects worth €156 million focused on livelihoods, durable solutions, job creation, and women’s economic empowerment. She said an additional €40 million program specifically designed to support returnees will be launched in the near future.
She noted that the EU is gradually shifting its focus from emergency humanitarian aid toward long-term sustainable solutions, particularly for internally displaced people and returnees in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the United Nations, marking World Day of Small and Medium Enterprises, said SMEs account for more than 90 percent of businesses worldwide and play a critical role in employment and economic growth.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stressed that stronger investment, innovation, and sustainable industrial development are essential to help businesses withstand economic challenges and build resilient economies.
Afghan private sector representatives and economic analysts say greater support for SMEs could help the country address economic challenges faster, increase employment, and promote sustainable long-term development.
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