Repatriation of undocumented Afghans from Iran rises by 30 percent

The number of undocumented Afghan nationals returning to Afghanistan from Iran increased by 30 percent in October, according to Iranian officials.

Hossein Jamshidi, the governor of Taibad in Iran’s Khorasan Razavi Province, told IRNA on Sunday that the surge was recorded at the Dogharoun border crossing, one of the main transit points between the two countries.

Jamshidi said undocumented Afghans are being directed to migrant camps in 11 provinces across Iran to finalize their return arrangements before being sent to the Dogharoun border for repatriation.

He added that the number of deported or identified undocumented Afghans exiting through the border also rose by 10 percent in October compared to the summer months.

According to official figures, more than 1.2 million undocumented Afghan nationals have returned to Afghanistan through the Dogharoun crossing since the start of Iran’s calendar year on March 21.

Jamshidi also announced that a biometric identification system for foreign nationals will soon be installed at the Dogharoun checkpoint — the first of its kind among Iran’s border crossings — to better manage migrant data and streamline repatriation procedures.

Iran continues to host one of the largest Afghan refugee populations in the world, but the recent rise in voluntary and forced returns follows mounting economic pressures and tighter migration controls across the country.