Dozens of Afghan Refugees Forcibly Deported from Tajikistan, Sources Say

Tajik security forces have reportedly carried out a fresh wave of forced deportations of Afghan refugees from the western city of Vahdat, expelling at least 47 individuals to Afghanistan via the Sherkhan border, sources on the ground told Khaama Press on Monday.

The deported individuals, according to a local Afghan refugee who spoke on the condition of anonymity, were mostly taxi drivers and small business operators residing in Vahdat. All were registered refugees holding documentation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“Early this morning, security personnel summoned the taxi drivers to the security headquarters in Vahdat. They confiscated our UNHCR cards and refugee IDs, and then loaded the group into two large vans,” the source said. “They were driven straight to the Sherkhan border and handed over to Afghan authorities.”

In addition to the taxi drivers, several other refugees who had gone out for shopping or medical visits in the city’s Gulistan Market were also reportedly detained and deported.

This incident marks the second or third known wave of forced deportations by Tajik authorities in recent months. However, human rights advocates say such actions are rarely covered in the media due to press restrictions and limited access to information within Tajikistan.

Several deported individuals, according to accounts from local sources, had previously reentered Tajikistan after paying large sums to intermediaries. Refugees and observers allege that corrupt officials within Tajikistan’s security apparatus are orchestrating these cycles of expulsion and reentry for personal gain.

“Afghan refugees are being used as a source of income—stripped of their legal rights and threatened with deportation unless they pay bribes,” said the source. “It’s a cycle of abuse and extortion.”

The UNHCR and other international agencies have not yet issued any official statements regarding the reported deportations.

The situation adds to growing concerns over the safety and legal protection of Afghan refugees in Central Asia. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, thousands of Afghans have fled to neighboring countries like Tajikistan, seeking refuge from persecution and instability.

Rights organizations have long urged governments to uphold international conventions protecting refugees, warning against the return of individuals to countries where they may face danger or human rights violations.

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