Over 1.8 Million Afghan Migrants Return via Islam Qala Border, Report Says
According to Iranian media reports, a large wave of Afghan migrants has returned from Iran this year. Iranian officials say that more than 1.8 million Afghan nationals have crossed back into Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border so far this year. Amrollah Shamghedari, an Iranian border official, stated that this number includes returnees from both Khorasan Razavi province and other parts of Iran.
The recorded number of Afghan returnees through this crossing is described as one of the largest return waves in recent years. Located in western Afghanistan, the Islam Qala border is one of the main official crossings between Afghanistan and Iran, and serves as the primary route for migrant movement between the two countries.
Migration experts have warned that the large-scale return of Afghan nationals poses significant economic and social challenges for those coming back. Despite the growing wave of deportations and voluntary returns, the Taliban administration has yet to implement effective and well-planned programs to integrate and support returnees. As a result, many of these migrants face livelihood hardships and a lack of basic services upon their return.
