Tehran: The Iranian deputy Minister of Justice has announced plans to expatriate thousands of Afghan prisoners to Afghanistan within the next two months. Askar Jalalian made these remarks to IRNA prior to his departure for Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday, where he is expected to discuss the logistics of the prisoner transfers. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Jalalian, who chairs the committee on the transfer of convicts, stated that Afghan prisoners in Iran will be returned to their homeland to serve the remainder of their prison terms. This decision aligns with human rights principles and laws, and the transfer will only occur if the prisoners agree to it. Jalalian emphasized that Iran and Afghanistan had signed a prisoner transfer treaty approximately two decades ago, and the current ruling government in Afghanistan, the Taliban, continues to honor the agreement. The deputy Minister highlighted the positive diplomatic relations between Tehran and Kabul, noting their shared language and cultura l commonalities. He expressed concerns that some parties might not favor the strong cooperation between the two nations, urging both countries to maintain cordial ties. Jalalian underscored that cooperation between neighboring states is essential to overcome any challenges they may face. He also noted that the majority of Afghan prisoners in Iran are convicted of drug trafficking offenses. Additionally, Jalalian mentioned that the number of Iranian prisoners in Afghanistan is fewer than ten, and efforts are underway to facilitate their return to Iran in accordance with the treaty.