Iran expels 100,000 Afghan migrants

[bemildred]

Source: Earth Times

TEHRAN, June 7 Iran has expelled nearly 100,000 migrants from Afghanistan and 900,000 more may be deported by spring because Tehran says Iranian jobs must be protected.

Afghan government resources are strained and reports have surfaced that some of the deportees have been physically abused and have been separated from families, The Washington Times reports.

Salvatore Lombardo, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees representative in Afghanistan, says the commission realizes Iran has the right to "tackle" illegal migration. But he asked authorities to treat deportees "with dignity" and to give them time to make arrangements for family members. After the 1979 Soviet invasion, the newspaper says more than 5 million Afghans sought refuge in neighboring countries. The UNHCR says Iran has 920,000 registered refugees from Afghanistan, and the commission estimates there are up to 1 million more there "illegally." Government officials say Iranians who employee undocumented Afghans face prosecution.

The Times says the government of Pakistan has approved a plan to "repatriate an estimated 3 million Afghan refugees and close all camps by 2009." Analysts believe the deportations are politically motivated and are related to Tehran ' s "confrontation with the West."

Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/70538.html

[Xipe Totec]

1. It's the Marielitos boat lift all over again

using refugees as a weapon.

This will further destabilize the Afghan government and strengthen the Taliban.

[bemildred]

2. Yes, it does sound familiar, doesn't it. nt

[BearSquirrel2]

3. This could help the US ...

This could actually backfire on Iran and help the US effort. The folks who are fleeing are those who don't want any part of war. Those are EXACTLY the people you want fighting on your side when they are backed into a corner.

[On the Road]

4. That's All Afghanistan Needs:

a flood of unemployed locals returning with a chip on their shoulder looking for someone to take it out on.