Taliban prison authorities say around 2,000 Afghan prisoners have been transferred from Iran to Afghanistan since the group returned to power in August 2021.
According to statements carried by state-run Afghan media, Mohammad Nasim Lalehand, spokesperson for the Taliban’s prison administration, said some of the transferred detainees have been released after completing their sentences, while others remain in custody.
He added that Iranian authorities formally hand over Afghan prisoners, with approximately 408 individuals transferred in two phases during the past year alone.
Recent meetings between Taliban officials and Iran’s Ministry of Justice suggest that both sides are seeking to expand this process and deepen judicial cooperation.
While framed as a legal and administrative arrangement, the transfers also point to a broader pattern of practical engagement between Tehran and Taliban authorities in sensitive governance areas, despite the absence of formal diplomatic recognition.
At the same time, the process raises questions about the legal status of transferred prisoners, detention conditions, and guarantees of due process—particularly given ongoing changes and challenges within Afghanistan’s judicial system.
The issue highlights the intersection of cross-border legal coordination and human rights considerations in a rapidly evolving political context.
