INTERNATIONAL — June 11, 2026
408 Afghan Prisoners Transferred from Iran to Afghanistan
Four hundred eight Afghan prisoners, including one woman, were transferred from Iran to Afghanistan in the first phase of the eleventh round of a bilateral prisoner exchange agreement.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Bakhtar News — corroborated by Pajhwok, Afghanistan International, ToloNews and 2 more — 2 min read
The Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Tehran announced that 408 Afghan prisoners were transferred from Iran to Afghanistan in the first phase of the eleventh round of prisoner transfers.
The handover took place after identity verification during an official ceremony at the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province. Afghan Ambassador Maulvi Fazl Mohammad Haqqani and Iranian Deputy Minister of Justice Askar Jalalian attended the event along with members of the prisoner transfer committee.
One of the transferred prisoners is a woman. The prisoners were handed over to Afghanistan's Administration for the Regulation of Prisons and will serve the remainder of their sentences in Afghan facilities under a bilateral judicial agreement.
The transfer process is scheduled to continue in the coming days. Legal experts described the arrangement as a constructive measure that strengthens judicial cooperation between the two countries and supports family reunions.
Read the original reporting at Bakhtar News →
Reliability assessment
6 independent outlets corroborate the core event of the prisoner transfer with consistent details on the number (408), round (eleventh), and named officials present at the ceremony; on-record statements from the Taliban embassy and prison directorate provide direct attribution
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Afghanistan International: "in the framework of agreements between Tehran and the Taliban" (presents Taliban as governing authority), "always been accompanied by concerns" (frames the process negatively), "at risk of arbitrary detention, mistreatment, or other human rights violations" (uses strong human rights violation language with implied judgment on the Taliban); ToloNews: "positive step in strengthening cooperation", "constructive and humane action", "preserving the human dignity of the prisoners" - these phrases frame the transfer with positive value judgments and advocacy language that go beyond neutral reporting.
Across the newsrooms
Where reports agree
- 408 Afghan prisoners transferred from Iran to Afghanistan
- This was the first phase of the eleventh round of transfers
- Ceremony attended by named Taliban embassy official Fazl Mohammad Haqqani and Iranian official Askar/Asghar Jalalian/Jallalian
- Transfers occur under bilateral judicial/consular agreements allowing prisoners to serve remaining sentences in Afghanistan
- Process is ongoing and expected to continue
Where reports differ
- Minor spelling variations of Iranian official's name (Askar Jalalian vs Asghar Jallalian) and exact title phrasing
- Only two sources mention the inclusion of one woman and the Islam Qala route; others omit these details
Filed by 6 outlets
Bakhtar News
Originating
Reported straight
Reported straight
Pajhwok
Reported straight
Reported straight
Afghanistan International
Framed
Framed
ToloNews
Framed
Framed
Amu TV
Reported straight
Reported straight
Hurriyat
Reported straight
Reported straight
Filed under
International — Afghanistan, Iran, Taliban, Prisoner Transfer, Islam Qala
Spotted an error or have more on this story? Tip the desk on Telegram → or WhatsApp →.
Reader supported
Keep Ehtebar running
Every published story uses paid tools to translate reporting, compare sources, extract claims, and produce a clearer read on Afghanistan. Reader support helps keep that work independent.
€5
helps cover daily verification runs
€15
supports a week of source comparison
€50
keeps independent analysis moving
More in International
European Commission Yet to Issue Visas for Taliban Delegation to Brussels
— Reliable
Russian Court Fines Citizen for Social Media Comment About Taliban
— Reliable
UN Human Rights Office to Send Investigative Team to Lebanon
— Reliable
Afghanistan-Pakistan Track 1.5 Talks Held in Istanbul as Airstrikes Reported in Afghan Provinces
— Reliable