REFUGEES SHIFT EXIT ROUTE TO IRAN BORDER

Thousands of Afghans are attempting to flee the Taliban takeover and escape into neighbouring Iran each day, in an exodus joined by many former government officials and civil servants.

Researchers have seen an “exponential rise” in the number of people trying to get out via Zaranj in the southwestern province of Nimroz, with long traffic jams through the desert.

Both Pakistan and Iran have tried to lock their borders but Afghans are paying people-smugglers to get them out.

The Taliban has imposed a levy of up to $13.55 on each pickup truck of migrants making the crossing with Pakistani and Iranian police also accused of taking a cut from the trade.

Residents and travellers said that as many as 5,000 people per day have been trying to get out of Afghanistan via Nimroz in the past week.

Sultan Mohammad Parwani, 23, a former policeman, said: “We face starvation and an unknown fate. The smugglers are cruel, they sell us to each other and there is no guarantee we will get to our destination.”

David Mansfield, a researcher who studies opium smuggling routes, said the numbers of migrants leaving Zaranj had “increased exponentially.” He added: “Reports indicate most are ex-employees of the former republic, some leaving along with their families, highlighting the desperate situation.”