In brief
Thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan are confronting a deportation deadline, with fears of returning to a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
In a poignant scene outside Karachi, Afghan families marked Eid al-Fitr with unease, as a critical deadline approaches. Starting Monday, they must leave Pakistan, where many have called home for years, and are now faced with the grim reality of returning to a country rife with dangers since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.For decades, Afghans have fled to Pakistan from wars and instability, with many seeking refuge after the fall of the U.S.-backed government. Although some were promised resettlement in the United States, the sudden deportation order announced last month has thrown their lives into turmoil.Haji Abdullah Bukhari, a community leader, expressed the struggle many face: “It’s impossible to uproot lives in just a few days. Some have spent decades here, and now they are being forced back to a country they hardly know.” The rising tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban play a significant role in this predicament. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militants responsible for violence within its borders, leading to an increase in deportations. Even as the Taliban deny such accusations, the political climate remains fraught, leaving refugees in Pakistan wrestling with their uncertain fate.
