Iran, Afghanistan conduct prisoner exchange at Milak border
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This comes as both nations boost judicial ties and plan new cross-border transit hubs to strengthen trade and transport cooperation.
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Judicial and law enforcement officials from Iran and Afghanistan oversee a prisoner swap at the Milak border crossing on April 27, 2025. (IRNA)
Iran and Afghanistan completed a prisoner exchange at the Milak border crossing in southeastern Iran, where 199 Afghan nationals detained in Iranian prisons were handed over to Afghan authorities. The detainees had been held in various prisons across Tehran, Sistan and Baluchistan, and Isfahan provinces.
The exchange took place in the northern part of Sistan and Baluchistan, with judicial and law enforcement officials from both countries present to oversee the process.
Alongside the return of Afghan detainees, two Iranian citizens serving sentences in Afghanistan were also repatriated to Iran. Iranian authorities received the prisoners at the same Milak crossing point.
Ongoing judicial cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan
This exchange is part of broader judicial cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan. Iran’s Deputy Justice Minister for Human Rights and International Affairs, Askar Jalalian, recently stated that over 4,500 foreign nationals detained in Iran have been repatriated to their home countries in similar agreements.
New border transit hubs to be established between Afghanistan, Iran
Meanwhile, Iran and Afghanistan continue to develop bilateral ties and cooperation. Last week, both nations announced that transit hubs on both sides of their shared border would be built, as confirmed by the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
An Afghan ministerial delegation is in Iran for talks on the matter, according to Tolo News.
"This [the Afghan] delegation will identify suitable areas for establishing transit truck parks between Afghanistan and Iran, particularly in regions such as Chabahar, to support the development of transportation facilities," announced the Transport Ministry spokesperson Hekmatullah Asifi.
He added that "This visit will help translate joint cooperation between the two countries into practical infrastructure development," while noting that the visit aims to identify suitable locations for transit hubs on both sides of the border and discuss further development of cross-border transportation with Iranian officials.
Afghanistan and Iran's bilateral trade surpassed $3.3 billion in 2024, the Afghan Commerce Ministry reported.
Read more: Iran, Afghanistan resolve longstanding Hirmand river dispute: Bikdeli
