RASC News Agency: The Public Prosecutor of Razavi Khorasan Province in Iran announced that from the start of the current Iranian calendar year until the month of (November/December), over 30,820 undocumented Afghanistani nationals were intercepted at the shared border before entering Iranian territory. Hojjat Sediqi stated that these individuals were deported back to Afghanistan via the Dogharoon crossing. Iranian officials have previously reported arrests of Afghanistani migrants at border points and within various provinces of the country.
Sediqi explained, “This large number of undocumented individuals was detained by armed forces stationed along the northeastern border before they could cross into the Islamic Republic.” He also noted that the number of Afghanistani nationals attempting to enter Iran illegally has significantly declined compared to the same period last year. The official highlighted that Afghanistani migrants continue to attempt unauthorized crossings daily at various points along the border. However, hundreds are apprehended by law enforcement and promptly deported.
Sediqi attributed the reduction in illegal crossings to factors such as the enhanced security along the Iran-Afghanistan shared border, the capability and vigilance of armed forces stationed in the eastern region, strict enforcement of legal measures within the country against unauthorized entries, and the collaboration of national and provincial agencies. However, deported Afghanistani migrants have repeatedly reported cases of mistreatment and abuse by Iranian border authorities.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, widespread fear of the group, compounded by severe poverty and rising unemployment, has driven a large number of Afghanistanis to seek refuge beyond their borders.
