Tajik Officials Launch Crackdown on Afghan Refugees Near Dushanbe

Tajik Officials Launch Crackdown on Afghan Refugees Near Dushanbe
——————————
Tajikistan has initiated a campaign of arrests and forced expulsions targeting Afghan refugees near its capital, Dushanbe, raising urgent calls for international humanitarian intervention, Khaama Press reported. According to Radio Free Europe, hundreds of Afghan refugees residing in the Rudaki and Vahdat districts were given 15 days to leave the country or face deportation.

On July 15, Tajik security forces reportedly entered Afghan neighborhoods in Vahdat, detaining dozens of men, women, and children. Authorities confiscated identity documents and issued strict departure deadlines, sparking fear and panic among already vulnerable refugee families.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that nearly 9,900 Afghan refugees were officially registered in Tajikistan by the end of 2024, though unofficial figures suggest the number may be closer to 13,000.

Human rights advocates have expressed deep concern over the crackdown, warning that displaced Afghans—fleeing conflict and instability in their homeland—are now facing renewed uncertainty and hardship. The situation highlights the pressing need for international support to ensure Tajikistan upholds refugee protections while managing its security and migration challenges responsibly.

Calls for increased humanitarian assistance and diplomatic engagement are growing as the crisis unfolds.