Iran hands over nearly 200 Afghan prisoners to Taliban

Iran has transferred nearly 200 Afghan prisoners to the Taliban as part of a prisoner exchange, facilitated at the Milak border.

On Sunday, April 27, Iranian media reported that 199 Afghan prisoners were released from Iranian prisons as part of a prisoner exchange agreement. These prisoners, held in various Iranian facilities, were transferred to Afghanistan, marking a significant development in diplomatic relations between the two nations. The exchange also included the release of two Iranian citizens imprisoned by the Taliban, who were subsequently handed over to Iranian authorities.

The Afghan prisoners had been serving sentences in several Iranian prisons, including those in Tehran, Isfahan, and Iranshahr. The handover ceremony took place at the Milak border crossing, where both Iranian and Taliban officials were present. Iranian authorities, including Ali Reza Rasadi, the prosecutor of the Hirmand district, as well as senior military and prison officials, attended the event.

Despite the significance of the exchange, details regarding the charges and sentences of the Afghan prisoners were not disclosed by Iranian media. However, this swap follows a similar transaction earlier in the year, when Iran handed over another group of 199 Afghan prisoners at the Silk Bridge crossing. During that time, the Taliban announced plans to return an additional 484 prisoners in the future.

The release of Afghan detainees is part of a larger pattern of exchanges between Iran and the Taliban, which aims to address the humanitarian situation and improve bilateral ties. In January 2024, Taliban officials announced that they would soon transfer 1,500 Afghan prisoners back to Afghanistan. There are currently around 8,000 Afghan detainees held in Iranian prisons, according to statements from the Taliban and Iranian authorities.

This development comes amid growing discussions about the return of Afghan refugees and migrants, with the Taliban claiming that around five million Afghans have returned to their home country since their takeover. The ongoing exchanges reflect the complex relationship between Iran and the Taliban, with both sides working towards managing the large numbers of Afghan nationals in Iranian custody.

The post Iran hands over nearly 200 Afghan prisoners to Taliban appeared first on Khaama Press.