Tajikistan began detaining and deporting Afghan refugees. Authorities gave individuals just 15 days to leave the country. Even those with valid residence permits are affected.
Security officers are conducting daily raids. Dozens of Afghan men are taken from worksites without informing their families. Most are still awaiting immigration decisions. Some are in the resettlement process to Canada. Forced deportations place their lives and legal status at risk.
Human rights groups warn that sudden removals may violate international protection norms.
The wave of deportations reflects growing pressure in neighbouring countries. Iran and Pakistan have also intensified expulsions in recent months. Refugees are facing shrinking options for safety across the region.
Tajikistan hosts over 13,000 Afghan nationals. Many are former civil servants, soldiers, or ex-government staff who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021. With mass deportations now underway, their safety is once again under serious threat.
