Israel-Iran confrontations worry Afghan refugees about their safety and fate

Iran’s recent attack on Israel has worried Afghan immigrants in Iran who have sought refuge in that country mainly due to unemployment and security threats inside their country.

The Afghan refugees say that tensions between Israel and Iran have negatively affected the lives of millions of Afghan immigrants and if Israel attacks Iran, the lives of thousands of people who have gone to that country from Afghanistan due to security threats, will once again be in danger.

They called upon the international community to address the concerns of immigrants in Iran as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, a number of political experts, considering the current situation, say that there is a possibility that tensions between Iran and a number of other countries will increase.

According to the experts, the return of Afghan immigrants to the country is impossible due to security and political problems. They emphasize that due to the current situation in the region, the Taliban must make a “total political change”.

Some factories in Tehran closed over possible Israeli attack

Iran’s attack on Israel and its consequences have worried many Afghan immigrants in that country.

Jamshid is one of the Afghan immigrants in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. He, who has been living with his family in Iran for more than 10 years, says that Iran’s recent attack on Israel has had a negative impact on their work environment.

Demonstrators wave Iran’s flag and Palestinian flags as they gather in front of the British Embassy in Tehran on April 14, 2024, after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel. (AFP)

“Since the attack, we are all shocked. I was working in a factory but our work has been temporarily stopped. No reason was given behind the shutting down, but apparently the reason for stopping our work is due to concerns about a possible Israeli attack,” Jamshid said.

He also said after the increase in tensions between Iran and Israel, the process of deporting undocumented immigrants from Iran has been increased in an unprecedented manner.

Nisrat Sekandari, another Afghan refugee said that police forces are everywhere in the cities and roads and they detain and deport Afghan immigrants without documents.

“I don’t have a legal stay document, so I quit my job for a few days and I don’t go out of the house,” he lamented. He said that he tried to get documents, but the procedure is very difficult and failed to obtain legal documents and expressed fear of being deported to Afghanistan anytime when police catch him.

Refugees can’t return to Afghanistan due to security reasons

The Afghan refugees emphasize that in the event of a possible Israeli attack on Iran, the lives of millions of Afghan immigrants in that country will be in danger.

Maryam, is the daughter of one of the soldiers of the previous Afghan government, said that they moved to Iran after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan.

“We, the immigrants, are very worried about Israel’s attacks on Iran, because we can no longer return to the country. My father used to be a soldier, and if we return, he will either be arrested or killed by the Taliban like thousands of other soldiers,” Maryam lamented.

Weas Naseri, a political expert said that it is impossible for Afghan immigrants to return to the country due to security and political problems.

“In a situation where Iran itself is exposed to the danger of an attack by the countries of Israel with the cooperation of US, France, UK and other countries, therefore the lives of millions of our immigrant compatriots in Iran is in danger,” Naseri added.

He furthered, “considering the current edgy situation in the region and the world, a very large and widespread war is likely to take place.”

He said that due to possible war between Iran and Israel, it is better for the Taliban to make a general political change, and within a few weeks and months, a new step and political agreement should be established to facilitate a transitional government.

He said that Talian should form a government which should be acceptable to all Afghans, including the opposition parties.

Iran terms attack on Israel as a great success

On Saturday night, Iran launched a massive attack of apparently over 300 missiles and drones toward Israel, and Iranian officials called the attack a success.

Iran’s direct attack on Israel lasted several hours and Israel vowed to retaliate in a proper time which has taken the Middle East closer to a wider conflict.

Iran and Israel have been in tensions for many years and Iran since the 1979 revolution, took an anti-Israeli posture.

Other countries in the region like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine are having bitter ties, while other Arab countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and some others condemned Iran’s attack on Israel.  The West, mostly, condemned Iran for attacking Israel, but at the same encouraged Israel not to retaliate and maintain peace in the region.