TEHRAN- The Deputy Minister for International Affairs and Human Rights within the Iranian Ministry of Justice, along with the head of the committee responsible for transferring foreign convicts, has announced plans to repatriate a thousand Afghan prisoners to their home country over the next two months.

Askar Jalalian stated on Wednesday that an agreement regarding the transfer of convicts was established with Afghanistan in 2005, and the current Afghan government is obligated to adhere to this official agreement. 

Jalalian mentioned that he will be traveling to Kabul to discuss the transfer of Afghan prisoners currently in Tehran, as well as the repatriation of Iranian prisoners to Afghanistan.

He emphasized that the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Afghanistan is strong across various sectors, noting that both nations share a common language and numerous cultural ties. 

Jalalian acknowledged that some adversaries may not favor the strengthening of Iran's relations with its neighbors; however, he affirmed the importance of nurturing the deep-rooted connections between the two countries.

The head of the convict transfer committee further elaborated that the plan is to facilitate the return of a thousand Afghan prisoners within the next two months, allowing them to serve their sentences in Afghanistan. 

Jalalian highlighted that the Islamic Republic of Iran's approach to this transfer is grounded in principles of human rights, as returning these convicts to their homeland enhances their chances of successful reintegration into society.

The Deputy Minister for International Affairs and Human Rights noted that the majority of these prisoners are incarcerated for drug-related offenses, while some have committed crimes where the private aspect has been resolved, leaving them to serve time for the public aspect of their offenses.

“The repatriation process will be carried out in compliance with international law and collaboration with Afghan authorities. This initiative will influence the wider relationship between Iran and Afghanistan, as well as the general circumstances of Afghan migrants and refugees in the area,” Jalalian concluded.