Iran shares a border of greater than 900 kilometres with Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic hosts one of many largest refugee populations on the earth. File | Picture credit score: Reuters
Iran’s army has constructed a wall alongside greater than 10 kilometers of its jap border with Afghanistan, the principle entry level for migrants, native media reported on Monday (23 September 2024).
“Greater than 10 kilometers of partitions have been constructed on the border and one other 50 kilometers are about to be walled,” Iran Pupil Information Company (ISNA) mentioned, citing Common Nozar Nemati, deputy commander of the military’s floor forces.
Iran shares a border of greater than 900 kilometres with Afghanistan, and the Islamic Republic is dwelling to one of many world’s largest refugee populations, made up largely of well-integrated Afghans who arrived prior to now 40 years after fleeing battle of their dwelling nation.
The stream of Afghan migrants has elevated for the reason that Taliban took energy in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US forces.
Tehran has not launched official figures on the variety of Afghan migrants, however lawmaker Abolfazl Torabi has estimated their quantity at between “six and 7 million.”
The authorities have lately elevated stress on “unlawful” refugees and often announce expulsions throughout the jap border.
“By blocking the border, we need to management entry and exit from the nation” and “higher enhance the safety of the border areas,” mentioned Common Nemati.
In September, Inside Minister Eskandar Momeni mentioned Iran would use different strategies, together with barbed wire and water-filled ditches, along with the wall to dam the border.
On September 13, parliamentary Nationwide Safety Committee spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei mentioned police plan to “expel greater than two million unlawful residents within the close to future.”
In line with the official IRNA In line with the Iranian information company, Afghans make up “greater than 90% of foreigners” in Iran and “most of them enter the nation with out id paperwork.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian has mentioned his authorities plans to “repatriate unlawful nationals to their nation in a respectful method.”
In line with the Statistical Heart, within the yr starting in March 2023, Iran hosted greater than 2.7 million documented Afghan refugees. That quantity represents 97% of authorized migrants within the nation.
Printed – September 23, 2024 10:38 pm IST
