Afghan Families Return From Iran as War and Economic Crisis Destroy Their Livelihoods

Thousands of Afghan migrants are returning from Iran after years of building their lives there, driven by an economic crisis that has made work increasingly difficult and savings increasingly worthless.

For many, the decision to return is deeply painful. Some left Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, seeking security, employment and opportunities for their families in neighbouring Iran. Now, the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel and the resulting economic turmoil have pushed many of those same families back across the border.

At the Islam Qala crossing in western Afghanistan, returning migrants arrive with what remains of their belongings before completing registration and documentation procedures. The border has seen a steady flow of people heading back into Afghanistan.

Mohammad Saeed is among them. He left Afghanistan with his parents, younger brother and sister when he was 18, shortly after the Taliban regained control of the country. His family spent years in Iran before economic conditions forced them to leave.

When they returned, much of their savings had disappeared in real terms because of the sharp decline in the Iranian currency.

Saeed said the family had little left when they crossed back into Afghanistan.

Iran had long provided Afghan migrants with access to a significantly larger economy and more employment opportunities than those available at home. For decades, Afghans travelled there to escape poverty, while many also viewed the country as a refuge during periods of political instability and Taliban rule.

That economic advantage has now weakened dramatically.

Iranian consumer prices have risen sharply during the crisis. Official data shows annual consumer inflation approaching 90 percent, while food prices have increased even more rapidly. The rising cost of basic goods has placed severe pressure on households that depend on low paid work.

Afghan migrants have been particularly vulnerable because many depend on construction, street trading, day labour and other jobs that are highly sensitive to economic conditions.

Sayed Jawed Qazi Khani, a 40 year old Afghan migrant, said business activity that once allowed some traders to make substantial profits had largely disappeared as inflation reduced purchasing power among both Iranian citizens and Afghan migrants.

For many workers, day labour became one of the few remaining sources of income, but wages often failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living.

Surveys by the International Organization for Migration indicate that only about 29 percent of Afghans who recently returned from Iran reported having savings remaining. Their average income had also fallen by nearly one third compared with levels before the economic crisis.

The return is also increasingly involving women and entire families.

More than two million Afghans have left Iran over the past two years, with many deported or pressured to leave by Iranian authorities. Historically, unaccompanied Afghan men have represented a large portion of those being forced out.

Recent arrivals, however, increasingly include mothers, daughters and complete family groups.

For women who had remained in Iran after the Taliban takeover, returning presents a difficult choice. Staying in Iran has become increasingly unaffordable, while returning to Afghanistan means facing restrictions on education, employment, travel and freedom of movement.

The Taliban authorities say their rules governing women are based on their interpretation of Islamic law. International organizations, however, have documented extensive restrictions affecting Afghan women and girls.

Abdul Jabbar, 44, spent nearly four decades of his life with his family in Iran. He had established a comfortable existence in the city of Kerman, where he worked finishing the exterior of buildings.

He did not want to return to Afghanistan with his wife, two daughters, grandson and elderly mother. But the conflict changed his circumstances.

Military installations near the family’s home were repeatedly targeted during the fighting, while construction work disappeared. Relatives in Afghanistan encouraged him to return, telling him that employment and safety would be available.

Instead, Jabbar arrived with almost no possessions or savings.

Relatives helped the family with basic necessities and loans, but two months after returning he remained without employment and was unable to repay the money. His family now lives in a small mud brick home with only one room and limited electricity supplied by solar panels.

His 15 year old daughter, Setayesh, dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She said she misses her education and friends in Iran and would return if she had the opportunity.

The experience highlights the difficult circumstances facing many Afghan families who are returning without the financial resources needed to establish themselves again.

At the Islam Qala border crossing, Taliban official Abdul Ghani Qazizadeh said between 20 and 40 families were voluntarily returning each day, including women and girls.

He said many migrants had found that their wages in Iran could no longer cover basic household expenses. Some workers also complained that employers had failed to pay them money they were owed.

For other families, returning has meant attempting to rebuild businesses they were forced to abandon.

Saeed and his mother, Rezwana Jami, started producing pizza cheese after moving to Iran in 2021. Their small business initially developed a loyal customer base, but worsening economic conditions eventually made production impossible.

The family struggled to obtain essential ingredients, including milk, as food shortages and inflation intensified.

They eventually returned to Afghanistan five months ago and used their remaining savings to purchase kitchen equipment. They have since restarted their cheese production, hoping to take advantage of growing demand for quality pizza cheese in Afghanistan.

Their business has also provided work to young girls who would normally be expected to continue their education. Under Taliban restrictions, Afghan girls face limits on education beyond the sixth grade and are barred from attending universities.

Jami said her 17 year old daughter has found the transition particularly difficult. After years of education, she is now largely confined to the home.

For families like Saeed’s and Jabbar’s, returning to Afghanistan is not necessarily a sign that conditions have improved there. Instead, it reflects the shrinking number of alternatives available to Afghans caught between economic collapse in Iran and severe social and economic restrictions at home.

The continuing movement across the Islam Qala border illustrates the wider consequences of regional conflict and economic instability. Families that once crossed the border seeking a better future are now making the journey in the opposite direction, often carrying little more than the hope of rebuilding their lives again.

Courtesy: reuters