Tajikistan Deports Afghan Migrants Citing Security and Legal Concerns

Tajikistan Deports Afghan Migrants Citing Security and Legal Concerns
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Tajikistan has confirmed the mass deportation of Afghan migrants due to security threats, drug trafficking, and immigration violations, according to Azerbaijani news outlet Caliber. A statement released on July 19 by Tajikistan’s Border Forces acknowledged the removal of foreign nationals, though it did not explicitly name Afghans, Afghan Amu news outlet said.

Officials cited rising geopolitical tensions and noted that many foreign citizens, including Afghans, were found in violation of residency regulations. Inspections uncovered issues such as drug trafficking, extremist activities, and fraudulent asylum claims. In response, Tajik authorities have increased enforcement and deported individuals breaching immigration laws.

In April, 50 UN-registered Afghan refugees were detained in Vahdat and sent back to Afghanistan. In a separate incident in June, 49 Afghans, some with valid documents, were deported via the Sher Khan Bandar crossing. Tajikistan, once a major host of Afghan refugees, has shifted toward stricter immigration policies amid ongoing opposition to Taliban rule. Estimates suggest 10,000–13,000 Afghans still reside in the country.