Tajikistan has reportedly begun detaining and deporting Afghan migrants, giving many just 15 days to leave the country, according to Amu, raising concerns about a growing regional crackdown on displaced Afghans.
According to Afghan residents in Tajikistan, the detentions have escalated in recent days, particularly in the suburbs of the capital, Dushanbe. Dozens of Afghan men—many of them heads of households—have allegedly been detained without prior notice in Vahdat Township and Rudaki District and forcibly returned to Afghanistan.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said some of those detained held valid residency documents, highlighting the arbitrary nature of the expulsions.
“This is happening without warning or communication with families,” the source said, adding that many were detained at their workplaces or taken from their homes.
Tajikistan currently hosts more than 13,000 Afghan nationals, many of whom fled the country following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. A large number of those now facing expulsion are former Afghan government employees awaiting resettlement in countries such as Canada through third-country migration programs.
The development mirrors recent actions in neighboring countries. Iran and Pakistan have also intensified deportations, expelling thousands of Afghans daily despite international calls for restraint and protection of vulnerable groups.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that over 6mn Afghans are currently displaced worldwide, with the majority residing in Iran and Pakistan. Human rights organizations warn that forced returns could put many at risk, particularly those with ties to the former Afghan government or opposition movements.
“Returnees, especially those seen as opponents of the Taliban, face arrest, abuse, and even execution,” one rights advocate said.
In June, three residents from Afghanistan’s Panjshir Province reported that the Taliban detained around 20 young men after they returned from Iran. The detainees were allegedly accused of having ties to anti-Taliban armed groups.
Earlier, UNHCR called on the international community to urgently scale up support, warning that Afghanistan is under growing strain from a sharp increase in returning migrants. Since early 2025, more than 1.4mn Afghans have either returned voluntarily or been forcibly sent back—mostly from Iran, which has seen a sharp increase in returns since mid-June. On July 1 alone, over 43,000 people crossed the border, compared to a previous daily average of 5,000. Pakistan also reported nearly 150,000 returns in April, signaling a wider regional trend.
UNHCR teams are stationed at key border points to aid returning migrants, providing emergency assistance such as food, hygiene kits, and cash support. However, the agency warns that its resources are stretched thin and that ongoing aid operations may not be sustainable without urgent funding.
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