Iran Rescues Nearly 300 Stranded Afghan Citizens Near Taybad

The governor of Iran's Taybad city stated that Iranian forces rescued nearly 300 Afghan citizens who had recently entered the country illegally and become stranded in the northeast due to rain and cold weather.

The Iranian embassy in Kabul confirmed the rescue, noting that the individuals were identified at difficult border points during unauthorized entry and got trapped amid harsh conditions. "300 unauthorized Afghan citizens trapped in snow and rain in the northeast were rescued through the efforts of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran stationed in these areas," the embassy said. It added that the migrants would receive humanitarian aid, including hot food, medical treatment, and welfare services before being handed over to Afghan authorities upon completion of treatment and legal processes.

Yousuf Amin Zazi, a military expert, said the Afghan government is obliged to provide facilities to its citizens to prevent them from leaving the country, urging authorities to listen and cooperate with their concerns.

Migrant activists warned that increasing illegal crossings via difficult border routes heighten human and security risks, particularly in winter when unofficial paths pose serious threats to life. Abdul Razzaq Adil, a migrant activist, described the rescue as a humanitarian success but emphasized that returning the migrants after treatment underscores that illegal routes are not safe or sustainable. He called on both countries to address the livelihood and security issues driving such dangerous migrations.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not commented on the incident. Previous reports have documented Afghan migrants trapped in harsh weather at the Iranian border.