As the conflict between Israel and Iran escalated, many Afghans who had been living in Iran opted to return to Afghanistan, fearing for their safety. The Iranian government’s current drive to deport Afghans had already accelerated the pace of ‘returns’. However, for Afghans who had lived through years of conflict in their own country, the ominous drums of war served as a powerful catalyst to flee Iran. AAN’s Nur Khan Himmat heard from one man who left his home in Tehran and returned to Afghanistan with his family. He spoke from a camp for returnees in Herat where he was staying before setting out for home in Balkh province.
Afghan families, who have been deported from Iran, rest with their belongings at the Islam Qala border crossing.
Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP, 28 June 2025
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This article was last updated on 11 Nov 2025
Tags:
Afghanistan
Iran
Taliban