The Afghan Migrant Crisis: A Geopolitical Quagmire and Generations of Suffering

For five decades, the plight of Afghan migrants has been a central issue in international politics, consistently used as a bargaining chip in global power dynamics. The Afghan people have disproportionately borne the brunt of these geopolitical conflicts.

Afghanistan’s modern history is punctuated by a series of interventions and conflicts, from the Soviet invasion to civil wars and Western interventions. Each event has triggered successive waves of displacement and refuge. The ongoing political and security instability in Afghanistan perpetuates the migration crisis, with the refugee issue frequently exploited in regional and international conflicts. A comprehensive solution addressing the root causes of this crisis remains elusive.

Neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran, have leveraged their hosting of millions of Afghan refugees as a political and economic tool. This has been evident in their interactions with international institutions and successive Afghan regimes, and in complex geopolitical maneuvering.

As political landscapes shift and regional and international alliances evolve, the Afghan people continue to bear the heaviest costs. Afghan refugees endure persistent suffering, marked by poverty, marginalization, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness. A clear path toward a safe and stable future for them and future generations remains absent.

Expulsion of Afghans from Iran: Political Dimensions and Regional Challenges
Iran’s recent forced deportation of a significant number of Afghan migrants has raised critical questions regarding its timing, motivations, and the resulting regional and international reactions. These actions are not unprecedented within the context of Iranian-Afghan relations, representing another episode in the long history of challenges faced by Afghans in Iran, from the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan to more recent regional interventions.

Between June 25 and July 6, 2025, Iran reportedly deported approximately 300 Afghan migrants, with a sudden escalation reaching over 35,000 people daily. This campaign coincided with heightened security tensions following the “Iran-Israel War” in June, accusations of espionage against Afghans, and a worsening economic crisis that led authorities to attribute social pressures to refugees.

Implications of the Timing of Afghan Refugee Deportations from Iran and Underlying Reasons
The timing of Iran’s forced deportation operations of Afghan migrants carries complex internal and external implications that extend beyond the official justifications provided by Iranian authorities, particularly the repeated accusations of espionage and threats to national security leveled against Afghan migrants. These pretexts appear tenuous, especially considering Iran’s historical relationship with certain Afghan factions, including opposition elements and even leaders within the Taliban movement.

Internally, Tehran appears to be seeking to alleviate escalating economic and social pressures, exacerbated by international sanctions and chronic financial crises. However, this claim contradicts the reality that many Iranian sectors depend on inexpensive Afghan labor. Furthermore, the continuous flow of hard currency into Iran through remittances sent by members of the Afghan community from Western and Arab countries suggests that their presence in Iran is often an economic benefit rather than a burden.

In the security dimension, Iran’s justification that the deportations aim to control borders and counter potential threats appears flimsy. Iran itself has long been implicated in regional destabilization and the fueling of armed conflicts through various proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan. Moreover, claims of an “intelligence breach” of Iranian institutions by Afghan migrants lack credible evidence, particularly given that the Revolutionary Guard and the Quds Force previously recruited Afghan combatants into the “Fatimiyoun Brigade” to fight in Syria.

Iran utilizes the Afghan refugee issue as a tool for regional political pressure, particularly amid escalating tensions with the West and competition for influence in Afghanistan following the American withdrawal. Through these actions, Iran seeks to pressure the Taliban and exert leverage over the international community for political and economic support, effectively transforming the refugee issue into a bargaining chip in Tehran’s foreign policy calculations to achieve negotiating advantages and shift the balance of power in its favor.

A Long Record of Injustices: Humanitarian Exploitation for Political Purposes
The relationship between Iran and Afghans, particularly migrants, is not a recent development, but rather a complex and often tense dynamic spanning over five decades. Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the late 1970s, Afghan migrants in Iran have frequently been denied many basic rights. Iranian policy has often been characterized by pragmatism, evidenced by its support for the Soviets at certain stages and subsequent alliance with the West to overthrow the first Taliban regime in 2001. This illustrates a clear prioritization of strategic interests over humanitarian considerations.

This pragmatism has been overtly demonstrated in the exploitation of Afghan migrants, particularly those from the Shia Hazara minority, in regional conflicts. Thousands of young Afghans have been forcibly recruited or enticed by material incentives to fight in the ranks of Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq, ostensibly to defend “Shiite holy sites.” This egregious exploitation represents a significant blemish on Iran’s record, as these individuals were thrust into conflicts in which they had no personal stake, serving regional agendas that superseded their interests and fundamental human rights.

Reactions and Available Options
The forced deportation operations have elicited diverse reactions at both international and regional levels. Human rights organizations have expressed grave concern regarding the human rights violations that forcibly returned individuals might face in Afghanistan, especially given the deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions there. These organizations have called upon the international community to pressure Iran to cease these practices and provide essential protection for refugees.

The Afghan migration file transcends a purely humanitarian concern; it is an issue with deep political, economic, and security dimensions. Addressing this multifaceted crisis necessitates a comprehensive approach from the international community, focusing on tackling the root causes and ensuring the rights and safety of migrants.
The original article was published on the Al-Ain News platform, United Arab Emirates

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