Taliban Says 16,242 Afghan Refugees Forcibly Deported From Iran, Pakistan In Single Day | World News

A total of 16,242 Afghan refugees were forcibly deported from Iran and Pakistan, the Taliban deputy spokesman said on Tuesday, according to local media reports.

According to the report of Afghanistan’s leading news agency Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat reported that 2 thousand 963 Afghan families consisting of 16 thousand 243 people returned home from Iran and Pakistan on Monday. He said the refugees entered Afghanistan through Islam Qala border crossing at Spin Boldak in Kandahar, Herat, Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz, Bahramcha in Helmand and Torkham border crossing.

Fitrat said that 2,161 families consisting of 11,772 people were taken to the relevant provinces, and humanitarian aid was provided to 1,882 refugees who returned to their homes. He also said telecommunications companies provided 2,958 SIM cards to Afghan refugees returning home.

Meanwhile, according to the news of Afghanistan-based Khaama Press, based on reports in the German press, Germany will receive the fourth group of Afghan refugees who have been approved for relocation within the scope of the humanitarian admission program on Tuesday. It was reported that the Afghan refugee group, which was allowed to enter by the German government, will travel from Islamabad to Hannover.

This will be the fourth evacuation flight to reach Germany since the new coalition government took office in Germany in May. Last week, 14 Afghan citizens arrived in Hanover as part of the same initiative launched to help those most at risk after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021.

Following the Taliban’s rise to power, Germany’s previous administration launched a reception program to protect local staff, human rights defenders, and journalists working with German and international organizations. But the current coalition government has signaled plans to reduce or phase out these voluntary adoption efforts.