ISLAMABAD: Dozens of Afghan citizens were killed while illegally crossing the Iranian border, with several others reported missing.
According to an Iranian newspaper report, numerous Afghan nationals died during attempts to illegally cross the border.
The bodies of 15 Afghan migrants were transferred to Iran’s Kohsan and Adraskan districts.
The Iranian media outlet further reported that there were around 40 deaths in total and several migrants missing along the Afghanistan-Iran border.
The Afghans were attempting to enter Iran via the Islam Qala route.
A senior Iranian border commander stated that illegal entry attempts into Iran doubled in October 2025 compared to the previous year.
On the other hand, the Iranian newspaper reported that more than 1.6 million Afghan migrants and refugees have been deported this year.
Afghan nationals have increasingly been reported crossing illegally into neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran, due to ongoing economic hardship, insecurity, and limited opportunities in Afghanistan.
Many individuals attempt these crossings without valid travel documents, using informal border routes to escape poverty, unemployment, or conflict-related pressures.
The situation has placed additional strain on border security systems and local resources in both countries.
Pakistan and Iran have responded by tightening border controls and increasing deportations of undocumented Afghan migrants, citing security, economic, and legal concerns.
Humanitarian organizations, however, have raised concerns about the safety and rights of migrants, emphasizing the need for coordinated regional solutions, legal migration pathways, and humanitarian support to address the root causes driving illegal crossings.
