"Discarded like waste": Afghans revisit territory scarcely familiar to them
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Ghulam Ali, a man of 51, now begins his days with an ache - not just in his muscles from hauling heavy loads in Kabul, but in his heart as he recalls the life he once had in Iran. He, alongside over 1.2 million others[1], was forcefully deported from Iran, overburdening Afghanistan and its struggling system[1][2].
Since Tehran vowed mass deportations to tackle growing local discontent over refugees, thousands, like Ali, have been stripped of their homes, their savings, and their dignity[2]. For Ali, a return to Afghanistan, the land he left as a 10-year-old during the Soviet invasion, brings only bitter disappointment. He, his family, and countless others now face a homeland fundamentally unready to receive them[2][3][4].
Life in Iran was challenging, but it offered a semblance of freedom and hope. Yet, in Afghanistan, they find themselves caught in a vicious cycle - stranded with little work[3], limited access to education[3], and stringent Taliban regulations that further restrict women[3].
Outsiders in their own country, the hardships faced by displaced men are compounded by the severe restrictions imposed on women under the Taliban government[3]. With no employment or schooling opportunities, the future seems bleak for many women and girls[3].
The ongoing crisis, exacerbated by the recent escalation of regional conflicts, underscores the urgent need for international support. The United Nations, in turn, has called on host countries to protect those in need, abide by international obligations, and ensure voluntary returns to Afghanistan[2].
Yet, the returnees, often forced to leave against their will, encounter only dire conditions in their homeland[2]. Desperate for shelter, food, and a chance at a sustainable future, the push for assistance grows ever stronger[2]. The saddening reality unfolds as the deportees confront abmotional turmoil - a double displacement that leaves them grieving the life they left behind[3].
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[1] Repatriation of Iranian Afghans: Addressing Major Challenges and Ways Forward (UNHCR, 2025)[2] Afghanistan Migration Profile (International Organization for Migration, 2025)[3] Impact of Afghanistan's Deportation Wave: Faces of Despair (Thomson Reuters Foundation, 2025)[4] Deportations of Afghans from Iran: Human Rights Abuses and Legal Concerns (Amnesty International, 2025)
- In light of the ongoing crisis, the United Nations is urging host countries to protect displaced individuals, abide by international obligations, and ensure voluntary returns to Afghanistan.
- As thousands of returnees face harsh conditions in Afghanistan, the push for international support in education and finance becomes increasingly dire.
- Beyond their struggle to secure work and food, women returning to Afghanistan are subjected to stringent Taliban regulations and limited access to education, creating a bleak future for many.
