ISLAMABAD — Afghans who escaped their country following the Taliban’s takeover have made a heartfelt plea to President Donald Trump, asking for an exemption from a recent order that pauses the relocation of refugees to the United States. Many of these individuals have stated that they endangered their lives by supporting U.S. forces during their mission in Afghanistan.
Currently, around 15,000 Afghans are in Pakistan, awaiting approval for resettlement to the U.S. through a governmental program designed to protect those who find themselves at risk due to their collaboration with the U.S. government, media outlets, humanitarian organizations, and human rights associations after the Taliban regained control in 2021.
However, shortly after Trump took office, his administration declared a suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program effective January 27 for a minimum of three months. During this pause, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is tasked with evaluating whether resuming the program serves the U.S. interests.
In Pakistan, officials have called upon the international community to finalize the status of approximately 1.45 million Afghan refugees, underscoring that these individuals cannot remain indefinitely.
The advocacy group Afghan USRAP Refugees, which is named after the U.S. refugee program, composed an open letter addressed to Trump, members of Congress, and human rights advocates, emphasizing the danger facing those who supported the U.S. mission. “The Taliban views us as traitors, and returning to Afghanistan exposes us to potential arrest, torture, or death,” the letter stated, adding that the conditions in Pakistan are becoming increasingly intolerable due to arbitrary arrests, deportations, and rampant insecurity.
Amid these uncertainties, women like Hadisa Bibi, who recently fled Kabul and is currently in Pakistan, highlighted their plight. Having been a university student before the Taliban imposed restrictions on women’s education, she expressed hope for a quick resettlement to the U.S. “This would allow me to continue my studies and provide a safer future for myself,” she remarked. However, she mentioned the anxiety of witnessing fellow Afghans being detained by police, which has left her feeling trapped and fearful.
Another woman, Mahnoosh Monir, was studying medicine in Afghanistan when her schooling was abruptly halted by the Taliban’s actions. She had previously taught but found her language center shut down as well. “There is no longer a safe place for women in Afghanistan,” she lamented, echoing her disappointment about the refugee program’s suspension and the uncertainty it brings.
The dire situation for Afghans is compounded by the United Nations report, noting that 1.4 million Afghan girls have been denied education due to Taliban policies, effectively making Afghanistan the only nation that completely bans female secondary and higher education.
Both Bibi and Monir have submitted applications for relocation and remain in suspense as the visa process becomes increasingly lengthy for individuals seeking refuge from persecution.
A sense of trauma permeates through the Afghan community in Pakistan, particularly for individuals like Farzana Umeed. She shared her emotional reaction to the suspension of the program, recounting how difficult life in Pakistan is while expressing her fear of returning to Afghanistan. “What should I do?” she questioned, appealing for Trump to reconsider his decision.
Included among those in exile are Afghan journalists who fled to escape Taliban persecution. They are now living with heightened anxiety and the looming threat of arbitrary arrest and deportation, as reported by watchdog groups. The organization has called for Pakistan to safeguard these journalists, who face additional challenges in extending their visas at steep costs.
The Afghan USRAP Refugees group indicated that several flight schedules to the U.S. had been arranged for January, February, and March for those who had completed necessary interviews with the International Organization for Migration and U.S. Embassy officials. Member Ahmad Shah has expressed the urgent need for the ban on the refugee program to be lifted on humanitarian grounds, as he was looking forward to traveling to the United States in March after fulfilling all necessary immigration requirements.
Outside of Pakistan, over 3,200 Afghan individuals have found temporary refuge in Albania, where the NATO member committed to hosting those fleeing for a year. Albania has also agreed to extend this period if the refugees’ resettlement visas are delayed.
