The forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran continues unabated. So too does the relentless cycle of humiliation, insult, and dehumanization inflicted by both the Iranian state and segments of its society upon defenseless Afghan refugees. The Islamic Republic appears determined to follow this course to the bitter end, even if it means sowing seeds of hatred in the hearts of every Afghan citizen. To date, not a single meaningful statement from major international institutions has emerged to challenge or temper Iran’s stance.
Amid these dark and difficult days, the generous solidarity shown by the people of Herat has provided a rare source of relief. Heratis gave what little they had to support deportees and earned widespread public admiration. Were it not for this minimal effort, the scale of the tragedy would be even more harrowing than it already is.
At the same time, one cannot ignore the lack of response from the rest of the country. The truth is, as of now, residents in other provinces have done little to support these returnees. It is difficult to imagine a greater humanitarian emergency than the sudden deportation of nearly half a million Afghans in less than three weeks, many of them stripped of dignity, most brutally, yet this has failed to trigger a nationwide wave of sympathy. No influential or capable groups have mobilized for voluntary assistance. This silence is all the more striking given that, in provinces struggling with deep poverty, people have previously raised funds in support of residents of Gaza.
Several points are worth emphasizing in light of these developments:
1) When a tragedy on the scale of the mass deportation of nearly half a million people fails to create a “shared sense” of grief and solidarity, it reveals that genuine national unity in Afghanistan has yet to take root. Without national unity, the suffering of one or two provinces will not resonate across the country. Over the past four years, when communities in parts of Afghanistan were severely affected by natural disasters or other calamities, other regions often responded with indifference. This pattern of disregard has deeper roots and must be examined with a critical, diagnostic lens.
2) It must not be forgotten that under Taliban rule, Afghanistan remains mired in poverty. The majority of its citizens depend heavily on foreign humanitarian aid—assistance that is largely misappropriated by the Taliban, leaving the truly needy empty-handed. When people are destitute and their cupboards bare, it becomes extremely difficult to mobilize them to help hundreds of thousands of deportees, most of whom are homeless and desperate.
3) A “culture of solidarity in times of crisis” has yet to take root in Afghan society. In countries facing large-scale humanitarian disasters, it is typically civil society organizations, charities, religious institutions, and well-known cultural or political figures who step in to galvanize public support for the victims. These same entities are also responsible for fostering a culture of voluntary aid during critical moments. Through coordinated campaigns, they shoulder a significant portion of the burden. During the Republic era, there were some positive examples of such activism. But under the Taliban regime, these institutions either no longer exist or have lost their independence, an absence that is being painfully felt today.
4) When the Taliban remain silent and passive, the public takes cues from their inaction. Whether one likes it or not, the Taliban are currently in power, and there is a widespread expectation that, as the de facto ruling authority, they should step forward in support of the deportees. If they are unable to prevent the expulsions, they should at least provide emergency assistance to those affected. And if they cannot or will not do that, then they should at the very least allow non-Taliban organizations to step in and help. If they cannot encourage aid, they should not obstruct it. Worse still, if they do interfere, they must not do so in ways that reflect ethnic or regional bias. Social media in recent days has circulated images showing Taliban officials assisting deportees from Pakistan while ignoring those returning from Iran. Such images reveal the Taliban’s discriminatory attitudes with alarming clarity.
So far, the Taliban’s response has amounted to nothing more than passive observation, as if they are quietly satisfied with the deportations. In traditional societies like Afghanistan, citizens have a deep-seated psychological dependency on the state. The government is seen as an all-powerful institution responsible for meeting every public need. Based on this perception, when the state fails to take the lead during critical moments, the public often follows suit and withdraws from engagement, a reaction that, while unfortunate, is somewhat understandable.
5) Also worth noting is the silence of the major political figures from the former Republic, many of whom are wealthy businessmen. Most of these politicians now present themselves as opponents of the Taliban. If the Taliban show no concern for the suffering of deportees, then these opposition figures should at least step in out of political rivalry. Instead, their stance has been equally passive. Yet, if they truly wished to help, they have the means to do so. Humanitarian imperatives would also make it difficult for the Taliban to block such efforts outright. And even if they tried, indirect channels of support do exist, reliable national aid organizations that could be mobilized effectively. When the nation’s wealthiest political leaders refuse to take action, it’s no surprise that an impoverished population also remains on the sidelines.
Final Word
It is in precisely these difficult and dangerous moments that a society’s sense of empathy is tested most clearly. Helping one another during dark times is not only a moral responsibility—it is a national imperative. It is during crises and turning points that we begin to understand whether Afghanistan is capable of evolving into a unified nation. Influential institutions and respected figures must rise to the occasion in these critical, unprecedented times. They must strive with full force to foster solidarity and a shared national consciousness. If, in the future, Afghanistan once again faces mass deportations from neighboring countries or other disasters, support for victims must not be confined to one or two provinces. All Afghans must understand and embrace their ethical and national responsibility.
You can read the Persian version of this analysis here:
