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Afghanistan and Iran discuss legal pathways for Afghan workers through work permits
Afghanistan and Iran are exploring formal mechanisms to regulate Afghan labor in Iran through legal work permits, according to a statement from the Iranian Embassy in Kabul on Sunday.
Alireza Bikdeli, Iran’s acting ambassador in Kabul, held talks with Abdul Manan Omari, Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, to advance bilateral cooperation on labor and social affairs.
The two sides emphasized the need to finalize a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran’s Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
The proposed MoU would establish a framework under which nationals from both countries could work legally, provided they obtain official work permits issued by employers. These permits would form the basis for visa issuance and legal residency status for Afghan workers in Iran.
The move comes amid increasing deportations of undocumented Afghan migrants by Iran, raising humanitarian and economic concerns on both sides of the border.
Iranian officials have acknowledged the critical role Afghan labor plays in the country’s economy. The Tehran Construction Association recently warned that the ongoing departure of Afghan workers is severely impacting the construction sector. According to Iraj Rahbar, head of the association, over 50% of construction workers in Tehran were Afghan nationals prior to the recent wave of deportations.
Observers say a formalized labor agreement could help stabilize workforce needs in Iran while providing legal protections and predictable income for Afghan workers, many of whom have historically been vulnerable to exploitation due to their undocumented status.
Both governments are expected to continue negotiations on the MoU in the coming weeks.
The Ministry of Interior has announced the delivery of several new, modern cars to the General Directorate of Traffic Police, replacing the older fleet that consisted mostly of trucks.
According to a ministry statement, the new vehicles, equipped with special traffic police colors, markings, and modern equipment, are expected to play a key role in maintaining traffic order in cities and on main roads, preventing accidents, and providing faster services to the public.
Azerbaijan has released 14 Afghan nationals from its prisons, Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.
The ministry said in a statement that the release happened following efforts by Afghanistan’s embassy in Baku.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its appreciation to Azerbaijan and relevant authorities for their cooperation and humanitarian action. It also reaffirmed that the IEA will continue to follow up on and resolve the cases of Afghan prisoners.
Former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, says Washington is largely satisfied with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) efforts against terrorism, though progress in broader relations remains hindered by the issue of prisoners.
In an interview with NDTV, Khalilzad said the United States views the detention of at least two American citizens in Afghanistan as the primary obstacle to improving ties.
Khalilzad highlighted what he described as a “significant degree of satisfaction” in the U.S. assessment of the IEA’s counterterrorism commitments under the Doha Agreement. He said the IEA continue to fight Daesh, a group they have long considered an enemy. Many Daesh militants, he added, have been pushed out of Afghanistan and are now in Pakistan.
At the same time, Khalilzad said concerns remain regarding human rights and the political role of non-IEA Afghans.
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