Afghan Migrants in Tajikistan Report Fear of Arrests and Deportations Following Security Operations

Afghan migrants living in Tajikistan are expressing heightened concerns over potential arrests and deportations following recent security operations in the country’s northern Sughd province. The measures were initiated after the killing of a Tajik woman in the city of Khujand on April 30, which led to the arrest of an Afghan citizen.

Regional media and migrant accounts indicate that authorities have detained and relocated between 200 and 250 Afghan nationals in the wake of the incident. While Tajik officials have not issued public statements confirming the scope or details of these operations, the reports have triggered widespread anxiety within the migrant community.

Approximately 9,000 Afghans currently reside in Tajikistan, with many using the Central Asian nation as a primary transit route for eventual resettlement in third countries. Community members and local advocates report that the sudden security measures have disrupted daily life and raised immediate fears of forced returns to Afghanistan.

The situation remains under observation as migrants await further clarification from local authorities regarding their legal status and the continuation of the security operations. No official deportation orders have been publicly released, but the ongoing uncertainty has prompted many to limit their public movements and seek legal guidance while monitoring developments in the region.