Tajikistan: Afghan Refugees ordered to leave within 15 days

Tajikistan: Afghan Refugees ordered to leave within 15 days
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Tajikistan has ordered Afghan refugees to leave the country within 15 days, causing widespread fear among thousands, including many who hold valid residency permits, Khaama Press reported. The government has reportedly launched a campaign to arrest and forcibly deport Afghan nationals, disregarding their legal status. Over 13,000 Afghans currently reside in Tajikistan, with many awaiting decisions on immigration or resettlement applications, particularly to countries like Canada. Forced deportations at this stage threaten to disrupt these processes and place refugees in immediate danger.

Many of the refugees are former civil servants, military personnel, or associates of the previous Afghan government who fled after the fall of the Afghan republic in August 2021 to avoid Taliban retribution. Reports indicate that Tajik authorities have intensified arrests, detaining dozens daily in areas such as Vahdat township and Rudaki district in Dushanbe, often taking individuals from workplaces without notifying their families.

This crackdown parallels similar actions by neighboring countries Iran and Pakistan, which have also increased deportations of Afghan refugees amid growing regional pressure. Human rights groups warn that returnees face serious threats, including violence and extrajudicial killings under Taliban rule. Despite these risks, Tajikistan, along with Iran and Pakistan, continues mass deportations, raising concerns about violations of international protection standards.

With limited asylum options available, Afghan refugees in Central and South Asia face a dire choice between uncertain futures abroad and life-threatening conditions upon return to Afghanistan.