As the Taliban overran Afghanistan, Australia told asylum seekers they should expect to return

For some Afghans, the trauma of watching their homeland descend into civil war has been compounded by the fact they might have to go back

Even as the Taliban swept across Afghanistan, overrunning cities and ultimately seizing the capital, the Australian government was telling some Afghan asylum seekers they should leave Australia and return to a country plunging back into civil war.

As late as 28 July this year, with the Taliban brutally ascendant across Afghanistan and days from capturing the capital Kabul, Afghan nationals were told by the Department of Home Affairs they were expected to depart Australia".