Tajikistani media outlets have reported that between 200 and 250 Afghan migrants were forcibly removed from their homes in Sughd Province and transferred to unknown locations.
Kabul 24: The operation reportedly took place after the arrest of an Afghan citizen in the city of Khujand, the capital of Sughd Province, who was accused of murdering a Tajik woman. According to local Tajik reports, security forces launched a large-scale action targeting Afghan migrants living in the area immediately following the crime.
Migrants were reportedly dragged out of their residences without prior notice and without following standard legal procedures.No official confirmation or exact figures have been released by the Tajik government so far. Unofficial sources, however, estimate the number of affected individuals between 200 and 250.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) has not issued any official statement regarding the incident. This silence comes despite frequent concerns raised about the treatment of Afghan migrants in neighboring countries.Unconfirmed reports suggest that the detained migrants may have already been deported back to Afghanistan.
If verified, this would mark another case of mass expulsion of Afghan nationals from Tajikistan in recent months.Relations between Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and Tajikistan have remained tense since 2021. Border issues, the presence of opposition groups, and concerns over illegal migration have frequently strained ties between the two sides.
Tajikistan has repeatedly expressed security concerns over Afghan migrants and the potential infiltration of extremist elements.This latest incident has once again highlighted the vulnerable situation of Afghan refugees and migrants in Central Asian countries.
Human rights organizations have previously documented cases of arbitrary arrests, mass deportations, and poor conditions faced by Afghan migrants in the region.Most Afghan migrants in Tajikistan fled their country after the political changes in 2021.
Many lack legal residency documents and work in low-paying daily jobs, making them particularly susceptible to security crackdowns.As of now, detailed information about the current status of these individuals remains unavailable.
It is unclear whether all those detained have been returned to Afghanistan or are still being held in Tajik detention facilities. Further updates and possible international reactions are expected in the coming hours and days.
The event underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Afghan migrants across the region and raises fresh questions about the protection of their rights amid bilateral security tensions.
