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Iran Takes Tough Stand on Illegal Afghan Immigrants Days After Pakistan's Crackdown

© AP Photo / Gemunu AmarasingheFamilies evacuated from Kabul, Afghanistan walk through the terminal to board a bus after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, 2021.
Families evacuated from Kabul, Afghanistan walk through the terminal to board a bus after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, 2021. - Sputnik India, 1920, 06.10.2023
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Illegal Afghan nationals residing in Iran and Pakistan are suddenly in the spotlight amid Kabul's downturn in ties with Islamabad and Tehran.
Days after Pakistan announced a November deadline for unregistered Afghan immigrants to exit the country or face deportation, Iran clarified its stand on the issue that has caused widespread resentment in Kabul.
Against this backdrop, Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi underlined that Afghan nationals should move to their country.

Tehran Urges Unauthorized Afghans to Move to Leave Iran

"Those who are unauthorized should not be in the country, and those who are legally present should operate within the defined framework," Vahidi told state media.
Vahidi's statement comes in the wake of Islamabad launching a widespread crackdown on illegal immigrants earlier this week.
According to Sarfaraz Bugti who serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister, all unauthorized immigrants living within the borders of the nation have been urged to leave before the specified date of November 1.
In case, any illegal immigrant remains in Pakistan after November 1, he/she will be dealt with as per the law of the land, which in this case would serving jail time before being deported to their homeland.
According to the Pakistan government's data, at least 4.4 Afghan nationals are presently residing in Pakistan.

Kabul-Islamabad Spar Over the Move

The Taliban* described the Pakistani government's move as "unacceptable."
"The behavior of Pakistan towards Afghan refugees is unacceptable," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Subsequently, he urged the Pakistani government to reconsider the decision.
"The Pakistani side should reconsider its plan. Afghan refugees are not involved in Pakistan's security problems. As long as they leave Pakistan voluntarily, that country should tolerate them," he added.

Growing Tensions Between Afghanistan-Pakistan

The development seemed to have further deteriorated ties between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan that were already strained over the issue of Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP**) militants finding safe sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Islamabad has repeatedly raised its concerns over the matter with Kabul, but the former is still waiting for the Taliban to take concrete action against the TTP in Afghanistan.
* The Taliban is under UN sanctions for extremism.
** A terrorist organization banned in Russia and India.
Pakistan Army troops patrol along the fence on the Pakistan Afghanistan border at Big Ben hilltop post in Khyber district, Pakistan, Aug. 3, 2021. - Sputnik India, 1920, 05.10.2023
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