Figures by Taliban’s commission for refugees show that daily return of migrants from Iran has fallen to dozens from hundreds amid tensions in the neighboring country.
The figures show that almost 300 individuals have returned from Iran over the past week, while the figure was over a thousand in the weeks ahead of the tensions and tens of thousands during the first 12-day conflict in Iran in June.
At Islam Qala, the main crossing between Afghanistan and Iran, activity now appears subdued. Only dozens of people are arriving each day, many of them young laborers who say they returned voluntarily as economic conditions in Iran worsened during the fighting.
“Unemployment and displacement are our main problems,” said Mohammad Rabbani, a returnee. “I have spent years going back and forth to Iran, but here we face serious job shortages.”
Many returnees said shrinking job opportunities in Iran and uncertainty during the conflict forced them to return, even as prospects in Afghanistan remain limited.
“I am currently unemployed and looking for work,” said Abdul Sattar, another returnee from Herat Province. “There are no jobs, and we are struggling. We don’t know what the future holds.”
According to Taliban figures, 88 people crossed back into Afghanistan through Islam Qala on Thursday and 11 the day before — numbers that underscore the sharp decline in movement.
Those returning expressed concern about the lack of economic opportunities at home, with some saying they might be forced to migrate again if conditions do not improve.
“If there is work here, that is good,” said Abdulrahman, another returnee. “If not, we will have no choice but to leave again — to Iran or anywhere else.”
The slowdown in returns comes as broader regional tensions continue to affect Afghanistan’s economy. The closure of the Torkham crossing with Pakistan and disruptions linked to developments in Iran have contributed to rising prices and strained markets.
In response, Taliban said they would allow trucks carrying Iranian goods to enter Afghanistan without visas or transit permits, in an effort to ease supply shortages and curb price increases.
