Why did many Afghan refugees move to Mashhad during the Afghan wars?

During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1979–89) and the subsequent Afghanistan War that began in 2001, hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled their country to escape widespread violence and the destruction of their homes.12

Many of these refugees sought safety in Iran, specifically gravitating toward the province of Khorasan and the city of Mashhad. This migration was driven by the urgent need to escape active war zones and the resulting economic and security instability. As a major urban center in northeastern Iran, Mashhad served as a primary destination for those fleeing across the eastern border, contributing to the city's status as a multiethnic hub. The influx of refugees was part of a broader demographic shift, as millions of Afghans were displaced globally due to decades of conflict.1234