Tehran, Kabul Drafting Plan for Repatriation of Migrants: Araghchi
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the drafting of a joint plan with Islamic Emirate officials for the gradual and dignified return of Afghan migrants from Iran.
According to Iranian media reports, Araghchi stated that with the implementation of this plan, the return process of Afghan migrants to their country will be carried out in a “gradual and dignified” manner.
The Iranian media report stated: “We are in consultation with the Afghan government to ensure this process is conducted in a principled and organized manner, and full negotiations were held with the Afghan side. It was agreed that a joint plan will be developed and implemented for the gradual and dignified departure of these migrants from Iran.”
“This initiative can be seen as a positive step, but we must not forget that the deportation process should be carried out under the supervision of international bodies, including the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration,” said Juma Khan Pouya, a migrant rights activist.
“We have moved past the notion of it being ‘voluntary,’ but if this process is conducted with respect for privacy or at least in a more dignified way, the migrants will have no complaints,” said Safar Barez, an Afghan migrant in Iran.
This agreement comes amid reports in recent years of increasing arrests and mistreatment of Afghan migrants in Iran.
“Neighboring countries in the process of deporting Afghan migrants should act according to international laws and with a clear mechanism, in cooperation with international organizations and in coordination with the current Afghan government,” said Enayat Alokozai, another Afghan migrant.
Earlier, on October 3, 2023, Iran’s Interior Minister announced that his country could no longer accommodate Afghan migrants and that deporting undocumented migrants was one of the Iranian government’s priorities.
