Afghans seeking refuge in Pakistan ordered to leave or face forced deportation

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• Geoff Bennett:

  Following the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent Taliban takeover, hundreds of thousands of Afghans sought safe haven in Pakistan. Many had spent years working with the U.S. and Afghan governments and fled a Taliban crackdown.

  But, as Nick Schifrin reports, today, they are on the run again after Pakistan started implementing its threat to deport more than one million undocumented Afghan refugees.

• Nick Schifrin:

  It was supposed to be their refuge, an Afghan family's home in Pakistan's capital. But, this week, it was torn down by the government they hoped would keep them safe.

  And so Afghans in Pakistan bear the burden of again being uprooted; 100,000 have loaded everything they own onto buses, forced to return to their home country. But many others are resisting this move that would be far too dangerous.

  Benazir Akhtari, Daughter of Afghan Human Rights Activist: We have too many problems in Afghanistan. And the Taliban arrested my mom. And the Taliban wants to kill my mom.

• Nick Schifrin:

  We spoke today to Benazir and Zohra Akhtari from Islamabad. Zohra Akhtari was a human rights activist in Afghanistan under the U.S.-backed government. Last year, she even protested the Taliban after their takeover.

  After this demonstration, the Taliban arrested her and tortured her. Shortly after, they escaped to Pakistan. Since taking over, Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have persecuted Afghans who worked with the U.S.-backed government and blocked nearly all female education and many female careers.

• Benazir Akhtari:

  I have a dream that I come in Pakistan and continue my lesson and my study, but now I cannot. I cannot continue my education in here. And in Pakistan, I also — in Afghanistan, also, I cannot continue my education, because Taliban don't allow Afghan girls or women to go on some education centers, school or university.

• Nick Schifrin:

  How scared are you right now? How scared is your family?

• Benazir Akhtari:

  And every time, I am scared, because I am — I say now come police in my house. And it's really hard, because I have a fear.

  It's really hard for every Afghan that's living in Pakistan.

• Nick Schifrin:

  That's because Pakistan's deportation threat has sparked a crackdown. Police have arrested hundreds of Afghans, no matter their documentation status.

• Zohra Wahedi Akhtari, Afghan Human Rights Activist (through interpreter):

  Since September, the cops have come to our place twice. They threatened us that: "The next time we come, we will deport you."

  We haven't slept a moment.

• Muhammad Mudassar Javed, CEO, SHARP-Pakistan:

  We have seen reports that people are getting arrested, or if you are Afghan, whatever the document, whatever the category you are in.

• Nick Schifrin:

  Muhammad Mudassar Javed is the CEO of SHARP, a Pakistani human rights organization focused on refugees.

  Why do you believe Pakistan is pushing these undocumented Afghans out?

• Muhammad Mudassar Javed:

  After almost 10 years, Pakistan has the highest number of terrorist attacks in this year, 2023.

• Nick Schifrin:

  The terrorist tipping point apparently came after two attacks in late September that killed or injured more than 100.

  But Pakistan's security fears have nothing to do with the Afghans who fought and then fled the Taliban and now have no refuge.

  The United States left Afghanistan, some argue abandoned people like you. Do you feel abandoned again?

• Zohra Wahedi Akhtari (through interpreter):

  I have been beaten up and tortured there. I came here to secure a better future for my daughters, but no one has helped me. I feel like all my e-mails go to the sky. I feel like the U.N. and the government of Pakistan have failed to help me, and there is no legitimate government in Afghanistan.

  I wonder if there is some space for me and my kids in any country in this world.

• Nick Schifrin:

  And it is a wonder that, after abandonment by her government, by the Americans, and now her neighbors, whether anyone will listen.

  For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Nick Schifrin.