By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal, Wasim Sajjad, Muhammad Zawar and Will Tizard April 19, 2025 When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, they quickly banned music, declaring it un-Islamic. Musicians faced threats, raids, and the destruction of their instruments. “Our homes were searched for what we had there,” says Faiz Muhammad Sakhki, an Afghan musician
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s Prime Minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, has called on Pakistan to immediately halt the mass deportation of Afghan migrants and instead work with Kabul on a coordinated and dignified repatriation process. During a meeting on Saturday, 20 April, with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Kabul, Akhund criticised Islamabad’s unilateral approach,
Khaama: Sabera, a young mother, was brutally deported from Pakistan with her 13-day-old baby, now stranded helplessly at Torkham border. Sabera recounted how Pakistani authorities forced her family out without warning. “Because of these heartless people, I had to leave Pakistan with my newborn,” she said, referring to the police who evicted them from their
Afghanistan International: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, announced on Thursday that he will soon travel to Kabul as part of Islamabad’s efforts to normalise relations with neighbouring countries. Speaking at a joint press conference with Hungary’s Foreign Minister in Islamabad, Dar said his upcoming trip to Afghanistan would aim to strengthen diplomatic engagement between
Afghanistan International: Zalmay Khalilzad, former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, has expressed concern that Pakistani institutions may be using the ongoing deportation of Afghan refugees as a cover to transfer Islamic State (ISIS) militants into Afghanistan. In a post published on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Khalilzad wrote: “Knowledgeable people tell me that they
Amu: Police in Pakistan’s capital raided homes in a neighborhood known to house Afghan migrants early Tuesday, breaking down doors and detaining several residents, according to sources who spoke to Amu. The incident took place in Islamabad’s B-17 sector. Witnesses said police officers entered homes without prior warning and took several people into custody, including
Ariana: Return of Afghans from Pakistan could worsen already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned on Monday. After decades of seeking refuge in Pakistan, up to a million Afghans could return to Afghanistan following a directive by the government of Pakistan which would require
FirstPost: The Afghan refugee crisis is not just a humanitarian tragedy—it’s a mirror reflecting Pakistan’s duplicity. Islamabad preaches unity for the Ummah but abandons Afghan Muslims to Taliban peril. Click here to read more (external link). More Immigration News Trump administration ends temporary protected status for thousands of Afghans
By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal April 10, 2025 Thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan have left via the Torkham border crossing as part of Islamabad’s large-scale deportation campaign. The government initially set a March 31 deadline for Afghan nationals to leave voluntarily, but the deadline was extended to April 10. Still, thousands have been forcibly removed since
Khaama: Afghan refugees in Pakistan are reportedly facing abuse and property looting during forced expulsions, according to officials’ statements. The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations of Afghanistan has condemned the ongoing detention and forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan. According to the ministry, these migrants are subjected to violence and their belongings are seized