Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, engaged in discussions with Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Iran’s South Asia Director General, on Saturday to address the issue of Afghan refugees residing in Iran. The meeting, which was focused on repatriation and bilateral ties, marked a significant step towards negotiating the return of Afghan nationals to their home country.
In a statement released by the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees, Kabir proposed a joint session with Iranian officials to negotiate a structured return for Afghan refugees. He emphasized the importance of extending the period for voluntary returns, allowing refugees more time to settle their affairs before leaving. Kabir also revealed plans to introduce a mechanism providing legal documentation for Afghan nationals whose residency status in Iran has expired, ensuring their stays are legalized.
Highlighting Iran’s consistent diplomatic engagement with Kabul, Kabir noted the frequent visits by Iranian officials to the Afghan capital, suggesting Tehran’s interest in fostering friendly relations with Afghanistan. Kabir urged Iran to consider a more flexible approach to refugee repatriation.
In response, Bahrami extended an invitation for Kabir to visit Tehran and suggested the formulation of a roadmap that would help in accelerating progress toward a mutual repatriation agreement.
Bahrami informed that Iran currently hosts around 8 million Afghan nationals, with 4 million of them either lacking legal documents or overstaying their permits. The Iranian Embassy in Kabul had previously indicated that the Taliban had agreed to repatriate undocumented Afghan migrants.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 1.2 million Afghans returned from Iran in 2024, with 67 percent of them being forcibly deported. Nader Yarahmadi, head of Iran’s Migration Center, also stated that over 3 million Afghans had been deported from Iran in the past three years.
This meeting underscores the ongoing efforts between the Taliban and Iran to address the refugee crisis and explore solutions for the safe and legal repatriation of Afghan nationals.
