The influence of the conflict between Iran and Israel is being felt by the Afghans inside both their homeland and across the border in Iran. The fight is already increasing serious conditions in Afghanistan, where prices have increased for Iranian-Ayed goods, which has put its weak economy further stressed. Millions of Afghan refugees in Iran – who once fled in search of security and a better life – are now facing renewed uncertainty and pressure from the authorities in the form of armed struggle.
“We have no place to live,” Afghan Rahela Ras told DW.
He said, “Our freedom of movement has been taken away from us. We are upset, humiliated, and abused,” he said.
The life of Afghans goes from bad to worse
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that around 4.5 million Afghan citizens currently live in Iran. Other sources suggest that the actual number can be very high. In recent years, Iran had taken steps to deport thousands of Afghans. However, many new refugees continue to demand employment or refuge from the Taliban rule.
In the years after the US return in 2021, the Taliban has destroyed media and civil society, targeted former Afghan security personnel and imposed serious sanctions on women and girls, banned them from work and education.
At the same time, the condition is prescribed for Afghans living in Iran. Refugees are allowed to buy food only at highly inflated prices and have been banned from leaving Tehran.
A refugee told DW that she could not buy a formula for her child.
“Everywhere I go, they refuse to sell it because I do not have the appropriate documents,” he said, requesting oblivion.
‘My heart is broken’
With bombs with Afghans in Iran, his new country no longer gives a glimpse of security. And some of them have already lost their lives in the fight.
DW spoke to Abdul Ghani from Ghor province of Afghanistan, whose 18 -year -old son Abdul Wali recently completed the school and moved to Iran to support his family.
“On Monday, I talked to my son and asked him to send us some money,” Gani said. “Last night, his employer called me to inform me that he was killed in an attack.”
“My heart is broken. My son is gone.”
There is no way for many Afghans
Returning to Afghanistan is not a clear option for most Afghan refugees, who are afraid of harassment under the Taliban rule. Speaking anonymously, a former member of Afghanistan’s security forces said that he is constantly in fear.
“We cannot return to Afghanistan. Taliban will prosecute us,” he said.
Under the previous government, Afghan internal minister and Ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Omar Dawoodzai, says that the international community should work to protect former Afghan officials and civil servants to return to Afghanistan, if the Israeli-Iran struggle declines.
“I am particularly concerned about former military and government employees who fled to Iran after Taliban acquisition,” said Davudzai. “The international community should justify the Taliban and ensure that the returns are not subjected to harassment.”
Advocates of migrants urge refugees
Amidst increasing chaos, human trafficking networks are seen exploiting the frustration of Afghan refugees. Rumors have suggested that Turkey has opened its boundaries to be passed.
But a migrant rights lawyer Ali Reza Karimi dismissed the claims of open boundaries as false information spread by smugglers. He reported that due to suspended flights, the Turkish border is only Iranian citizens and valid passports and visa passengers and are closed for Afghan migrants. Karimi urged the Afghan refugees not to fall to read the smugglers or walk in their nets.
Mohammad Omar Dawoodzai told DW, “I am a computer that smugglers asked refugees to go to Turkey, claiming that the boundaries are open. It so far produces another tragedy.
He asked Afghan refugees to live in Iran, where they are now, if possible.
“As much as they can, our people should stay where they are and wait patiently. And if, for any reason, they are forced to move, then they should hang the Afghan border – not Turkish,” Hei said.
Edited by: Darko Jenjeevic
