Iran plans to expatriate over thousands of Afghan prisoners back home, says official

The Iranian deputy minister of justice said that thousands of Afghan prisoners will be expatriated to their country within the next two months.

News ID: 5413

Date: 13 November 2024 - 13:39

TABNAK, Nov, 13 : Askar Jalalian made the remarks before his departure for Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday.

Jalalian, who also acts as chairman of the committee on transfer of convicts, said the Afghan prisoners will be returned to serve their prison terms in their own country.

The decision is based on the human rights principles and laws; however, the prisoners will be transferred only if they are consent to it, he underlined.

Iran and Afghanistan signed a prisoners transfer treaty about two decades ago, and the current ruling government (Taliban) in the neighboring country has remained committed to the deal, Jalalian noted.

About the Tehran-Kabul ties, the official said the two enjoy good relations in various areas as they speak the same language and have numerous commonalities.

Some ill-wishers might be unwilling to see Iran’s deep cooperation with its neighbors, so Tehran and Kabul should try to keep their ties cordial, he added.

He went on to say that the neighboring states have no choice but to cooperate with each other to overcome existing obstacles.

In his remarks, he said that Afghan prisoners in Iran are mostly convicted of drug trafficking.

He further pointed out that the number of Iranian prisoners in Afghanistan is less than ten; and the country has been making effort to return them through a reasonable way based on the treaty.

IRNA