Salam Watandar’s interviews with 10 families from nine provinces of Afghanistan show that their relatives died over the past two years while trying to reach Iran and Turkiye through illegal migration routes. The families say unemployment and economic problems have pushed youth to take dangerous routes, leaving their families facing serious emotional and economic difficulties.
Nargis, a 25-year-old resident of Balkh, is still waiting for her 28-year-old brother to return. He wanted to work abroad to save money for his wedding expenses and start a new life, but he never reached his destination.
According to Nargis, her brother worked in Iran for some time before heading to Turkiye. During the journey, some people contacted his family, claiming to have taken him hostage and demanding money for his release. Eventually, the family learned that he had died.
“My brother was engaged and wanted to get married, but our economic situation was not good, and there were no jobs in Afghanistan. That is why he decided to leave the country. He went to Iran and worked there for some time. Then he headed to Turkiye, but he lost his life along the way,” she adds.
Nargis’s brother’s story is one example of what happens to youth who take dangerous migration routes in the hope of finding work, helping their families, or building a better future. These journeys sometimes end in disappearance, hostage-taking, or death.
Salam Watandar interviewed 10 families from Kabul, Faryab, Nuristan, Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Kapisa, Jawzjan, Farah, and Balkh. According to the families, their relatives had migrated through illegal routes with the help of smugglers over the past two years. Of these, two had intended to travel to Turkiye, while the other eight had intended to travel to Iran.
According to the interviews, six had migrated to cover their families’ expenses or help their parents, three had gone in search of work, and one had left to earn money for his wedding expenses.
For these families, journeys taken in the hope of a better life have turned into painful experiences. In addition to the grief of losing their loved ones, some families have also lost their main breadwinners, making their economic situation even more difficult.
Noorullah, a 31-year-old from Nuristan, says his 22-year-old brother left for Iran about six months ago in the hope of finding work and improving the family’s living situation. However, he encountered robbers near the border and was killed. According to Noorullah, his brother’s body was returned home 12 days after the incident.
“That period was very difficult for us. Losing Hafizullah was very painful for our family. He was young and wanted to help the family by working. We hoped he would reach Iran, find a job, and improve our living situation, but unfortunately, he lost his life along the way,” he says.
Some families say that although they knew about the dangers of illegal migration, unemployment and economic problems left them with no choice but to take this route.
Jamshid, a 28-year-old from Kapisa, says his 18-year-old nephew died of thirst while travelling to Iran about a year ago. According to him, his nephew was the eldest child in the family and its main breadwinner. His father was unable to work because of a disability, and he had seven younger siblings.
“My nephew was only 18, but he was the family’s breadwinner. His father had lost one of his legs and could not work. He had seven younger brothers and sisters. His death severely harmed his family’s morale and worsened their mental health,” he adds.
Beheshta, a 24-year-old from Faryab, also says that her uncle decided to travel to Iran through an illegal route in search of work after losing his job. However, he died along the way.
“My uncle worked in Faryab. He had jobs in road construction and private offices, but when he became unemployed, he had no choice but to decide to migrate to Iran,” she says.
Lailuma, a 55-year-old from Jawzjan, also tells the story of her 17-year-old son, who died near the border of Iran. According to her, her son migrated about a year ago in the hope of reaching Iran, but he was killed when border guards opened fire.
“The border guards opened fire. My son was near the border of Iran. He was hungry and thirsty, and the smuggler had fled. I lost a part of my heart. I will never forget this pain. I feel as if I lost him only recently,” she adds.
A number of families who have lost relatives along migration routes say these incidents have not only harmed them psychologically but also worsened their economic situation, especially when the person who died was the family’s main source of income.
On the other hand, families who do not know what has happened to their young relatives for days or months face further psychological stress. Not knowing what happened to their loved ones or whether they are still alive also affects their daily lives.
Abdul Raziq Adeel, a migration expert, says reducing illegal migration requires more than simply preventing people from leaving the country; a range of measures is needed.
“Conditions must be created so that people do not have to risk their lives on dangerous routes in search of work and a better life. A combination of prevention, economic development, law enforcement, humanitarian support, and international cooperation can help reduce human smuggling in a sustainable way,” he explains.
Asefa Stanikzai, another migration expert, says that despite the dangers, some youth see migration as a way to change their living conditions and gain access to more opportunities.
“Despite all the dangers of migration, some people consider it a risk to reach a better future,” she says.
Shoaib Ahmadi, a sociologist, says the disappearance or death of a young person along a migration route has emotional and social consequences for the individual’s family and society.
“The disappearance of a migrant during a journey does not affect only the individual. It can also have serious consequences for the family and society. Families, especially parents, suffer severe emotional pain because youth play an important role in many families by covering living expenses and supporting other family members,” he says.
From an economic perspective, the death or disappearance of youth who provide their families’ income also makes existing problems worse.
Omidullah Qasemzai, an economic expert, says creating job opportunities and making better use of the capacity of youth can help reduce dangerous migration.
“There is a need to create more opportunities for investment in the country, make use of youth’s skills, and create jobs for them in both the public and private sectors. These measures can help reduce poverty and prevent the consequences of illegal migration,” he says.
Salam Watandar also sought the views of the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation on the government’s plans to prevent illegal migration. However, no response had been received by the time this report was published.
The migration of Afghan citizens to neighbouring countries has continued in recent years. Economic problems and limited access to job opportunities are among the factors that play a role in many Afghans’ decisions to migrate.
A report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on cross-border movements during the fourth quarter of 2024, from October to December, shows that Afghans’ movements to Iran and Pakistan were linked to factors such as economic and job opportunities, access to health services, and family visits.
Similarly, a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on border monitoring in Afghanistan, covering the period from January to May 2025 and published on June 24, 2025, highlights the dangers along illegal migration routes, including shortages of water and food, violence, theft, and mistreatment. According to the report, migrants also face the risk of smugglers demanding additional payments.
Reporter: Twoba Rasuli
