As tensions between Iran and Israel intensify, Afghan families with loved ones living in Iran say they are growing increasingly anxious about their safety and well-being.
Many families interviewed in Kabul and other provinces expressed frustration over widespread disruptions in internet and phone services, which have made it nearly impossible to contact family members across the border. In some cases, communication has been cut off entirely for days.
“We haven’t heard from my sister in Tehran for two days,” said Madina, a resident of Kabul. “The whole family is in tears. We don’t know if she’s safe, or where she is.”
Rights advocates have also raised the alarm, warning that thousands of Afghan migrants in Iran — many of whom fled Taliban persecution — now find themselves in precarious and increasingly unsafe conditions.
“Afghan refugees, including journalists, activists, and women protestors, are at real risk,” said Fahim Farak, a Kabul-based human rights advocate. “They are trapped in a conflict zone, and their options are few.”
Some Afghan migrants in Iran echoed the uncertainty. “We came here to escape war, but now we’re in another one,” said Maroufa, an Afghan woman living in southern Iran. “If things get worse, we have no idea where we’ll go.”
Alongside the human toll, the conflict is affecting Afghanistan’s economy. Prices of fuel and basic goods have spiked in recent days, especially in western provinces that rely heavily on trade with Iran. Economists warn that prolonged instability could further strain Afghanistan’s already fragile markets.
Afghan families and rights groups are urging international organizations to closely monitor the situation and advocate for the protection of civilians, including refugees, amid the ongoing conflict.
