Afghan families are facing a harrowing return, uprooted once more and arriving with nothing. Arafat Jamal, the UN's refugee coordinator in Kabul, describes them as "exhausted, hungry, and afraid of what awaits them" in a homeland many have never known.

At the border, Taliban fighters offer reassurances, urging them to "Come back and live in peace." However, profound fear persists among returnees like Shadmani, especially regarding life under Taliban rule, which has severely restricted women's rights since 2021.

Shadmani, who loves studying, expressed despair, believing she won't be able to continue her education in Afghanistan. Even in Iran, she faced discrimination, with some universities refusing her admission.

Another deportee, Yadulallah Alizadeh, was expelled from Iran after police arrested him. He now sleeps near the border, desperately waiting to reunite with his three sick children left behind. Job prospects in Afghanistan's impoverished economy remain grim.

Despite the dire situation, Taliban leaders are actively encouraging refugees to return. Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi recently toured the Islam Qala crossing, promising no rights violations and the return of any seized property.

Prime Minister Muhammad Hasan Akhund echoed this sentiment earlier this month, declaring, "No one will harm you. Return to your ancestral land and live in peace." Yet, the returning Afghans grapple with profound uncertainty.

Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sywdv8lbeg