The Take Why are Afghan refugees being sent back to Taliban rule?
Why Afghan Refugees Are Being Abandoned and Forced Back to Taliban Rule
Afghan refugees, many of whom have lived for decades in Pakistan and Iran, are now being forcibly deported back to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan despite enduring harsh, precarious living conditions abroad.
This mass deportation occurs amid deteriorating political relations, changing policies, and a global retreat from refugee support. Refugees face severe uncertainty and lack legal protections or resources when returned—sometimes literally being dumped across borders without aid.
Obaidullah Baheer highlights the deep injustice and neglect by host countries and the international community, emphasizing that "these people stood in the line of fire for you. You turn your back on them." He also stresses the long-term fallout, warning this abandonment will create regional instability and undermine hopes for peace and justice.
> The difference between you and a refugee is sheer luck. You're just fortunate you were born in a certain place and not they. They pay the ultimate price for larger politics they had nothing to do with.
This moment underlines how geopolitical interests, economic burdens, and fractured global refugee policies are converging to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Afghan Refugee's Struggle in Pakistan
- An Afghan woman in Pakistan lost her visa and became an undocumented refugee, forced to hide nightly in unsafe places with her family.
- She and others face dehumanizing treatment, informal work only, and no legal right to property or residency.
Refugees as Political Tools
- Iran and Pakistan historically supported the Taliban but now feel the Taliban regime acts independently of them.
- These countries use Afghan refugees as political tools to pressure the Afghan government and their own populations.