After Pakistan and Iran, does Tajikistan also want to deport Afghan refugees?

Tajikistan Confirms Deportations of Afghan Nationals On July 19, 2025, Tajikistan’s Border Forces — part of the State Committee for National Security — issued a statement confirming deportations of “foreign citizens,” some identified as Afghans. While no exact figures were provided, officials cited involvement in unlawful activities such as drug trafficking, spreading extremist ideologies, misuse of refugee or visa documents, third‑country migration transit, residence violations, and dual citizenship as justification for expulsions. The authorities reportedly issued SMS messages at the beginning of July, giving Afghan migrants and asylum seekers a 15‑day ultimatum to leave voluntarily. Detentions reportedly took place in the Vahdat and Rudaki districts near Dushanbe, with individuals often taken from homes or workplaces without warning. Their documents were confiscated before being deported to Afghanistan. Official estimates indicate that around 9,000 registered Afghan refugees were in Tajikistan by the end of 2024. Other, unofficial estimates place the number between 10,000 and 13,000. In December 2024, at least 80 Afghan refugees, many holding formal UNHCR refugee status, were deported — one of multiple documented incidents. UNHCR condemned these actions as violations of international protection principles, including non‑refoulement, and has repeatedly urged Tajikistan to halt forced returns. Similar deportations occurred earlier in 2025: in April, more than 40 registered refugees from Vahdat were forcibly returned; and in early June, 49 Afghan migrants — including 36 residence‑permit holders and 13 visa‑holders — were expelled via the Sher‑Khan Bandar crossing in Kunduz province. Despite these reports, Musavvir Bahaduri, head of Tajikistan’s Afghan Refugee Committee, publicly denied allegations of forced deportations, stating that no formal complaints had been filed. This contrasts sharply with reporting from international sources and eyewitness accounts, which describe fear, document seizures, and sudden expulsions. Context and Key Figures Numbers Involved: No precise count officially disclosed; authorities refer only to a “certain number” of Afghan citizens. UNHCR and media reports confirm at least 80 deportations in December 2024. Separate waves include 40+ deported in April 2025 and 49 in early June. Estimated Afghan population in Tajikistan: ~9,000 officially registered, up to 13,000 including asylum seekers. Reasons Cited by Officials: Immigration irregularities (e.g. overstaying visas or illegal entry). Accusations of criminal involvement, including drug trafficking and extremist propaganda. Use of falsified documents to claim asylum. Possession of third-country citizenship or using Tajikistan as a transit country. Humanitarian Concerns: UNHCR has repeatedly flagged deportations of individuals with valid refugee status as violations of international law. Rights groups warn that many returnees could face persecution, torture, or worse upon return to Taliban‑controlled Afghanistan.