Part 3/11:
The geopolitical storm is compounded by the influx of Afghan refugees. Since 2025, over 2 million Afghans have been deported from Iran and Pakistan, with some estimates reaching 3.4 million. The UN warns that this mass return exacerbates Afghanistan's already fragile situation—marked by economic collapse, food shortages, and weak governance. Any escalation to open conflict could have far-reaching regional consequences, destabilizing neighboring states and potentially igniting a wider crisis.