Jamiat-e-Islami urges Iran and Pakistan to reconsider forced deportation of migrants

The Jamiat-e-Islami party, led by former foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani, called on Iran and Pakistan to reconsider their policies of forcibly deporting Afghan migrants, warning that Afghanistan’s current conditions are unsafe for return.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the party said many returnees face serious threats under Taliban rule and emphasized that the internal situation in Afghanistan is not conducive to safe reintegration.

“Given the lack of legitimacy in the governing structure, the severe economic crisis, the dominance of unaccountable groups with destabilizing behavior, and the very real risks returnees face inside the country, the process of repatriation should be undertaken with prudence and in accordance with international standards,” the statement read.

The party also urged the international community, particularly migration-focused agencies such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to increase cooperation with host countries to help Afghan refugees regularize their status and ensure their protection.

The appeal comes amid a surge in deportations. In recent weeks, Iran has sharply accelerated the return of undocumented Afghans, with daily deportation figures reaching up to 30,000, according to humanitarian agencies. The spike follows Iran’s March 20 deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave the country.

The IOM said Monday that over 256,000 Afghan migrants were returned from Iran in June alone — a record high — bringing the total to more than 714,000 since January. Of these, 99 percent were undocumented and 70 percent were forcibly deported. The demographic profile of returnees is also shifting, with more families being sent back compared to earlier patterns that mostly involved single young men.

“The sheer number of returns from Iran, coming so soon after a spike from Pakistan, is placing immense strain on an already fragile response system,” said Amy Pope, director general of IOM. “Families are arriving with nothing but the clothes on their backs, exhausted and in urgent need of food, medical care and support.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan is preparing to launch the third phase of its deportation campaign against Afghan migrants, though officials have said consultations are still ongoing.

So far in June, only about 23,000 returnees have received assistance at IOM-run reception centers at Islam Qala and Milak border crossings, and at transit facilities in Herat and Nimroz provinces. Services include emergency food, shelter, transportation, healthcare, cash aid, and psychosocial support, particularly for women and children.

Aid agencies warn that without urgent international support and regional cooperation, Afghanistan’s already overstretched humanitarian system may not be able to absorb the growing influx, potentially fueling further instability.