Some experts say the continuation of this trend reflects a lack of job opportunities, economic hardship, and the absence of a clear outlook for the future in Afghanistan. In their view, many citizens are leaving the country not by choice but out of necessity, in the hope of finding security, employment, and better educational opportunities.
Asefa Stanikzai, a migration affairs expert, says: “Many families and young people are migrating not out of preference, but out of necessity, to obtain security, work, and better educational opportunities. Geographic proximity, shared languages, and family ties have also made Iran and Pakistan more accessible destinations for migrants from Afghanistan. However, migration does not necessarily mean a better life, and migrants in host countries face residency problems, the risk of deportation, and various restrictions.”
The migration affairs expert adds: “To reduce forced migration, its root causes must be addressed, including insecurity, a lack of job opportunities, and limited access to education. As long as citizens, especially women and young people, do not have the opportunity to build a bright future in Afghanistan, migration will continue.”
Mohammad Khan Talebi Mohammadzai, a migration affairs expert, says the continued migration of Afghanistan’s citizens to Iran and Pakistan, despite economic and security challenges and migration restrictions in those countries, reflects a livelihood crisis and unemployment in Afghanistan.
Mr. Mohammadzai says: “The most important driver of migration is economic hardship and the lack of sustainable job opportunities in Afghanistan. Many young people, despite having an education and professional skills, are unable to find suitable work, and for this reason they see migration as a way to meet their living needs and support their families. For many families, migration does not simply mean higher income; it is a way to provide necessities, including food, housing, healthcare, and education for their children. In such circumstances, even high-risk journeys and insecure residency in neighboring countries are more bearable for some families than remaining in a situation where they cannot meet their basic needs.”
Khalil Ahmad Nadem, a political affairs analyst, says: “Young people from many families are forced to take serious risks and migrate because of poverty, a lack of job opportunities, and restrictions on personal freedoms. They leave the country in the hope of finding work and providing for their families, and some take dangerous routes in an effort to reach other countries. In fact, the lack of job opportunities and the existing restrictions in Afghanistan are among the main reasons citizens of the country migrate.”
Mirwais Ashofta, another political affairs analyst, says that since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, extensive restrictions on girls’ education, women’s higher education, and women’s employment, along with poverty, unemployment, and a shortage of economic opportunities, have made the future outlook uncertain for many families.
Mr. Ashofta says: “Legal migration to distant countries is not feasible for many families in Afghanistan because of high costs, difficulty obtaining visas, and admission restrictions. Therefore, the migration of Afghanistan’s citizens should be seen as the result of a combination of political, economic, and social pressures that force them to leave the country and seek better opportunities outside Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, 19 citizens of the country have died in the deserts of Nimruz Province while attempting to travel illegally.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), expressing sorrow over the incident, said that every life lost on migration routes is a deeply painful tragedy.
Recently, the United States Department of State, in its 2026 report on human trafficking, announced that the Taliban have not taken effective measures to combat the phenomenon and that no practical steps have been taken toward meeting the minimum standards for combating human trafficking. According to the report, human trafficking, particularly internal trafficking, continues on a wide scale in Afghanistan.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, had also said that safe and legal migration pathways must be provided to prevent further loss of life.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
فرار از فقر و بیکاری؛ چرا جوانان مرگ در مسیر مهاجرت را به ماندن در کشور ترجیح میدهند؟
