Thesis Book - Seeds of Hope

4.1 Afghan Migration during Invasion
About one in four of Afghanistan’s population has been a refugee at
one point in their lifetime. Afghan citizens have been fleeing their own country
and seeking refuge near the borders due to the constant violence and destruction
present in the country for over 40 years. Most Afghans have fled to neighboring
withdrew from the country, about 2 million people who fled the country because
of the Soviet invasion returned to the country, while 5 million Afghans who
supported the Soviet Union were forced to leave. During this time many immigrated
to Russia and some to India (“Afghan migration after the Soviet invasion”).
nations such as Iran and Pakistan. The first wave of migration occurred during
the time of the Soviet Invasion in 1979. Several Afghans fled the country for
safety precautions due to the Soviet soldiers creating an unstable environment
for living, working, or raising a family. Some Afghans left the country due to
a call from Hijra. Hijra is an Arabic term for “migration” where people only
flee their home country since their country is taken over by people who do not
follow the same religion as Islam. At this stage, the Afghan citizens were also
put into conscription which is known as being forced into the military. Around 6
million people immigrated to other countries. By 1989, after the Soviet Military
Many Afghans fled to the Western nations towards the end of the civil war
and the takeover by the Taliban in 1994. The extremist and conservative Islamic
group outlawed many forms of food, music, art, film, and restricted women’s
freedom and rights. For this reason, many refugees, especially women, fled to
the United States, Canada, and other western nations that provided basic human
rights. Towards the end of the Taliban rule in late 2001, many Afghan refugees
settled in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the United States to have an
opportunity to live in freedom (“Afghan migration after the Soviet invasion”).
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