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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
UNHCR concerned over widespread return of Afghan refugees from Iran, Pak
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has voiced concern over the widespread and disorganised return of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan, terming the situation in Afghanistan critical, TOLO News reported. UNHCR head in Afghanistan, Arafat Jamal, said that the country is not well prepared to receive this influx of returnees. He demanded restraint, financial support, international dialogue, and cooperation to handle the chaotic situation better and achieve a more stable outcome. Arafat Jamal said: "However, today what we are seeing is the undignified, disorganised, and massive exodus of Afghans from both countries, which is generating enormous pressures on the homeland that is willing to receive them and yet utterly unprepared to do so. We are calling for restraint." Jamal said so far, more than 1.6 million Afghans, including 1.3 million from Iran, have come back to the country this year, a figure more than the UN's forecasts. He termed the intensity of this trend alarming, noting that on some days, over 50,000 people have been reported crossing through the Islam Qala border. He further stated, "Of concern to us is the scale, the intensity, and the manner in which returns are occurring. In terms of the scale, over 1.6 million Afghans have returned from both Pakistan and Iran this year alone, including 1.3 million from Iran," TOLO News reported. Some Afghan refugees living in Iran have expressed concerns regarding forced deportations. They have said that they are not able to go to work and are being taken into custody from markets and workplaces. Enayat Alokozai, an Afghan refugee in Iran, said: "We are facing a humanitarian disaster in the refugee sector. Afghan refugees in Iran are facing serious challenges and are being arrested from marketplaces and workplaces." The UN's warning comes as the number of Afghan refugees deported from neighbouring nations, particularly Iran, has increased, TOLO News reported. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning regarding the rising spread of infectious diseases among Afghan migrants deported from neighbouring nations amid poor sanitary conditions, Khaama Press reported. The WHO emphasised the need to enhance medical resources and staff capacity to address the increasing health risks. It has reported a rise in respiratory infections, skin conditions like scabies, diarrhoea and suspected COVID-19 cases among those deported from neighbouring nations. The ground assessments carried out at key border points, especially Islam Qala in Herat Province, reveal that upper respiratory infections are the most common diseases spread, followed by diarrhoea and dehydration, particularly among children and the elderly. The WHO has also flagged cases of scabies and COVID-19 among deported Afghan migrants. In response to the spread of diseases, the WHO has launched emergency health screenings and mass vaccination campaigns in collaboration with local health authorities at Islam Qala and Spin Boldak border crossings. These initiatives have been launched to stop further outbreaks and provide critical care to vulnerable people.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Trump calls Afghanistan withdrawal
Washington DC [US], July 10 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has once again strongly criticised the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, calling it 'the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country,' TOLO News reported. Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Trump questioned the actions of US military commanders, particularly Mark Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He pointed to the abandonment of military equipment and the loss of Bagram Airbase, which he said had strategic significance. TOLO News noted that Trump was especially scathing in his remarks about Milley's decisions. Trump said: 'They left all that equipment behind and every year they have a parade down from street with the equipment. With all that equipment that they left, they should have taken every ounce of it. Every screw, every bolt, every nail you take out of there. And Millie said, I remember one time, so we're better off leaving the equipment. Why? It's cheaper to leave $150 million airplane rather than flying it into Pakistan or India or some place. Yes, sir. That's when I knew he was not an idiot. Didn't take long to figure that one out. They left their dignity behind. It was the most embarrassing moment in my opinion in the history of my country.' According to TOLO News, Trump also underscored the significance of Bagram Airbase, saying it was a strategic location just an hour away from where China produces its nuclear weapons. He claimed the airbase is now under China's control -- a claim previously denied by Afghanistan's caretaker government. Trump said: 'We had Afghanistan, which I think was the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country, and we would have gotten out. I was the one that got him down. I would have kept Bagram, the big air base, which right now is controlled by China. Among the most powerful runways in the world. Thick, thick with concrete and seal. Anything could land. And right now they were one hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.' As per TOLO News, security experts have cautioned against any re-entry or sustained US military presence in Afghanistan, emphasizing strong local resistance to foreign troops. 'Although the US is a superpower and influences some Islamic countries, especially Arab ones, it is mistaken in this matter. Afghans will never tolerate foreign military presence on their soil. They must reconsider this,' military analyst Yousuf Amin Zazai told TOLO News. Over seven months into his second presidential term, Trump has not yet announced any official or detailed policy on Afghanistan. TOLO News highlighted that his sharp commentary comes amid this prolonged silence on the country's future engagement in the region. (ANI)
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Left dignity behind': Trump labels Afghan exit 'most embarrassing'; calls Milley 'idiot'
US President Donald Trump (AP photo) United States president Donald Trump called the hasty withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, ordered under the Biden administration, a "most embarrassing moment" in US history, and then-US military chief Mark Milley an "idiot". Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Trump questioned the actions of US military commanders, particularly Milley, who served as the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He pointed to the abandonment of military equipment and the loss of Bagram Airbase, which he said had strategic significance. Trump was especially scathing in his remarks about Milley's decisions, reported news agency ANI, citing TOLO news. 'They left all that equipment behind and every year they have a parade down from street with the equipment. With all that equipment that they left, they should have taken every ounce of it. Every screw, every bolt, every nail you take out of there,' Trump said. 'And Milley said, I remember one time, so we're better off leaving the equipment. Why? It's cheaper to leave $150 million airplane rather than flying it into Pakistan or India or some place. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like My 2-year-old baby needs your urgent help, please save her! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Yes, sir. That's when I knew he was not an idiot. Didn't take long to figure that one out. They left their dignity behind. It was the most embarrassing moment in my opinion in the history of my country.' According to Afghanistan's TOLO News, Trump also stressed the strategic significance of Bagram Airbase, alleging that it is now under Chinese control, an assertion previously denied by Afghanistan's caretaker government. 'We had Afghanistan, which I think was the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country, and we would have gotten out. I was the one that got him down. I would have kept Bagram, the big air base, which right now is controlled by China. Among the most powerful runways in the world. Thick, thick with concrete and seal. Anything could land. And right now they were one hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,' Trump said. Bagram Airbase, once the largest US military installation in Afghanistan, has long been viewed as a strategically vital location in the region due to its proximity to both China and Iran. Meanwhile, TOLO News reported that Afghan security experts have pushed back against any potential return of US troops to the region. 'Although the US is a superpower and influences some Islamic countries, especially Arab ones, it is mistaken in this matter. Afghans will never tolerate foreign military presence on their soil. They must reconsider this,' military analyst Yousuf Amin Zazai told TOLO News. More than seven months into his second term, President Trump has yet to unveil a formal Afghanistan policy. However, his recent remarks, sharp and highly critical, come amid continued uncertainty over Washington's future approach to the region. What happened in 2021? The United States officially withdrew its troops from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, marking the end of a nearly 20-year-long military presence -- America's longest war. The withdrawal followed a deal signed between the US and the Taliban in February 2020 under the Trump administration, which set the stage for a phased US exit in exchange for Taliban commitments on counterterrorism. The Biden administration carried out the final stages of the withdrawal, which culminated in a chaotic and deadly evacuation from Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, especially after the Taliban swiftly regained control of the country in August 2021. The withdrawal drew global attention and sharp criticism due to the abrupt collapse of the Afghan government and the dramatic scenes at Kabul airport, where thousands of desperate Afghans tried to flee. The US military left behind billions of dollars' worth of equipment, and the sudden power vacuum allowed the Taliban to reestablish full control over Afghanistan. The operation raised serious questions about US intelligence assessments, planning, and the long-term legacy of the war in the region.
Times of Oman
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Over 5,000 unaccompanied Afghan children return from Iran: UNICEF
Kabul: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported that over 5,000 unaccompanied children have returned from Iran to Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing, TOLO News reported. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF's representative in Afghanistan, said that 150,000 individuals crossed back into the country through Islam Qala just in the month of June. "In the month of June only, 150,000 returns have been recorded across the border in Islam Qala. Twenty-five per cent of these are children, many of whom are families, female-headed households, and in a very, very difficult situation. For us as UNICEF, we've seen more than 5,000 separated and unaccompanied children, and that comes with all the vulnerability of exploitation, abuse, and the lives that these children could be subjected to. Together with other partners on the ground at the reception center in Islam Qala, we are providing critical vaccination services," he said. According to TOLO News, poverty and economic hardship have driven Afghan children and teenagers to migrate to neighboring countries, especially Iran. Once in Iran, many of them are forced into labor far from their families, only to be deported and return alone through the Islam Qala crossing. Among the recent deportees is Murtaza, who said, "We studied up to sixth grade here, then stopped and went to Iran. We were deported again. Our hope is that the work and economic situation improves so we can continue our education in our own country." Another deportee, Nazeer Ahmad, recounted his experience: "During the five years we spent in Iran, we were harassed a lot. Along the way and in different places, they mistreated us and took extra money from us." TOLO News also reported that the mass returns come just seven days ahead of Iran's deadline for the departure of Afghan migrants from its territory. Adding to the pressure, more than 88,000 undocumented Afghan migrants were deported from Iran in a single week, Khaama Press reported, citing the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), raising alarm over urgent humanitarian and funding needs. Between June 18 and June 26, a total of 88,308 undocumented Afghan nationals were forcibly returned from Iran to Afghanistan, according to the IOM's June 28 update. The organisation stated that only 11 per cent of these returnees received any humanitarian assistance due to critical resource limitations, calling for urgent international funding to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable. The report further highlighted that 55 per cent of the returnees during this period were forcibly deported, and 64 per cent were travelling as families--underscoring the disproportionate impact on women and children. This figure marked a steep rise from the previous week, when 32,844 individuals were returned between June 10 and June 17. Earlier data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that over 71,000 migrants were returned from both Iran and Pakistan between June 1 and June 15, underscoring the scale and continuity of expulsions. Both agencies warned of the dire health and protection challenges that await returnees in overcrowded and under-resourced border areas, Khaama Press reported. In Iran, the crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals has intensified. Authorities have issued new orders invalidating all lease agreements with Afghan refugees and warning landlords against offering them shelter. According to Khaama Press, police have reportedly detained Afghan migrants across several provinces, with arrests increasing notably after the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also resumed strict enforcement against Afghan refugees, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Identity checks, detentions, and deportations have increased, often targeting families with little to no warning or legal recourse. Human rights groups have expressed concern over the ongoing mass arrests and forced returns. Both IOM and WHO have appealed for immediate international support to address the escalating refugee crisis. With deportations surging and border services overstretched, Afghan returnees face rising threats of homelessness, poverty, and deteriorating health conditions, Khaama Press reported.
