Environmental Destruction Under Taliban Rule

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Photo: Akmal Dawi/IRIN

8am: Under Taliban rule, the control over environmental destruction and climate change impacts, where the latter exacerbates the former, remains unaddressed. The current regime not only downplays these issues but also lacks representation in important international climate change forums. Instead, they contribute to environmental degradation. With the Taliban’s interference or neglect, forest fires are ignited and the process of deforestation continues. Droughts have worsened desertification trends. Qatari sheiks and other business partners of the Taliban freely travel to Afghanistan and engage in hunting endangered and rare bird species. Click here to read more (external link).

Iranian Film Casts Real Refugees To Show Plight Of Displaced Afghans

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An Iranian writing-directing duo has filmed the story of millions of Afghans living for decades in Iran without fundamental rights. Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli cast real Afghan refugees as their characters, secretly shooting in locations where their cast cannot legally go. In the Land Of Brothers screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July, shedding light on a population of permanent refugees that began streaming into Iran in the 1980s during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Many are still eking out a living, taking on unofficial manual labor jobs while facing constant discrimination.

Pakistan rejects reports of suspension of deportation of undocumented Afghan migrants

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Khaama: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has stated that reports suggesting the suspension of deportations of undocumented Afghan migrants from the country are incorrect, and the process of expelling these migrants continues as before. Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, announced the continuation of deportations of undocumented Afghan migrants from the country in a message to Radio Mashal, the Pashto-language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, on Wednesday, July 10th. She emphasized that Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, did not reach an agreement with Pakistani authorities regarding the migrants during his visit. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has announced the extension of residency permits for 1.45 million Afghan migrants holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for one year in the country. Click here to read more (external link).

Pakistan allows lawful Afghan refugees to stay for another year

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Ayaz Gul
VOA News
July 10, 2024

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan announced Wednesday it had extended the stay of more than 1.4 million lawful Afghan refugees for another year.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said the decision was made during a cabinet meeting he chaired in Islamabad.

The statement noted that the meeting approved extending the validity of proof of registration cards, or PoR, for Afghan refugees legally residing in the country to June 30, 2025. It added that the cards had expired last month on June 30.

The document enables refugee families in Pakistan to access health, educational, and banking facilities and protects them from forced deportations to Afghanistan.

The cabinet meeting occurred a day after the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, wrapped up a visit to Islamabad, where his discussions with Sharif and other senior officials focused on the problems facing the Afghan refugee community.

A post-visit UNHCR statement issued on Tuesday noted that its chief “called for the timely extension” of the PoR cards, describing them as a “critical identity document” held by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Refugee controversy

“Grandi expressed appreciation that the ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan [IFRP]’ had been suspended and sought assurances that it would remain on hold,” the UNHCR said.

Pakistan implemented the plan last October and began expelling foreigners, primarily Afghans, who do not possess legal documents or have their visas expired. The crackdown stemmed from rising terror attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians. More than 600,000 Afghans have since been forced to return to their home country.

A senior Pakistani official privy to Grandi’s meetings in Islamabad on Tuesday confirmed to VOA that his government had halted expulsions of undocumented Afghans under the IFRP. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.

However, on Wednesday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson disputed the UNHCR’s assertions about Islamabad suspending the IFRP.

“This is not true,” Mumtaz Baloch told VOA in a written statement.

“It may be noted that no such understanding has been given by Pakistan to the UNHCR, including in recent meetings with the High Commissioner for Refugees,” Baloch emphasized.

She noted the “IFRP remains in place and is being implemented in an orderly and phased manner.”

Afghanistan’s Taliban government, as well as human rights groups, have condemned Islamabad’s plan to forcefully send Afghans back, saying it is in violation of refugee and international laws.

Rights activists also cited sweeping restrictions the fundamentalist Taliban have placed on women, barring them from most jobs and public places and prohibiting girls’ education beyond the sixth grade.

The Taliban have denied allegations Afghan refugees are responsible for security issues facing Pakistan. Islamabad says the Taliban have allowed anti-Pakistan militants to take refuge on Afghan soil and stage cross-border terrorist attacks, charges Kabul rejects.

Meanwhile, Pakistani officials announced Wednesday they had launched a new phase of scholarships for Afghan students, including girls.

Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s special representative on Afghanistan, revealed the information through his X social media platform.

“Glad to launch the third phase of Allama Iqbal scholarships for Afghan students. In the coming five years, 4,500 Afghan students will pursue studies in social and natural sciences in various universities of Pakistan,” Durrani wrote.

Afghanistan women’s cricket future again rests with wrangling of men

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The Guardian (UK): The stop-start– or start-stop – story of the Afghanistan women’s cricket team has been sitting in the ICC’s to-do tray since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. It isn’t a straightforward issue, but no one can say that it has been at the top of the pile, with the governing body largely relying on procedure to explain its sloth-like movement. A brief history: the Taliban’s takeover violently, and instantly, scrubbed out the development of the nascent women’s team – players had only been given contracts in November 2020 and were yet to play a competitive match. The players and their families faced immediate intimidation – with many going home and burning and hiding their equipment for fear of being discovered. They fled over the border to Pakistan and 22 of the 25 were given emergency Australian visas (with two others going to Canada and another to the UK). Click here to read more (external link).

More Sports Reports

Horrifying Conditions for Healthcare Workers in Afghanistan: 80% of Violence Attributed to the Taliban

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8am: The Institute for Conflict Management has published a shocking report on the condition of healthcare workers under the Taliban regime. The report documents 109 incidents of violence against healthcare workers in 2023, with 80 percent of these incidents perpetrated by Taliban fighters. According to the report, 65 healthcare workers were detained and interrogated by Taliban forces in 38 incidents in 2023. The report also states that 16 healthcare workers and doctors were killed in 10 incidents by June this year. The institute noted the death of a doctor due to brutal Taliban torture in Badakhshan province, highlighting that Afghanistan’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse as the Taliban prioritize spending on their intelligence and security sectors. Click here to read more (external link).

Pakistan suspends deportations of Afghans on ‘humanitarian grounds’

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Ayaz Gul
VOA News
July 9, 2024

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has halted the expulsion of undocumented migrants from Afghanistan after discussions with the chief of the United Nations refugee agency.

Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, wrapped up his three-day visit Tuesday and called for “a bolstering of efforts towards longer-term solutions” for Afghans in Pakistan.

A post-visit UNHCR statement said, “Grandi expressed appreciation that the ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ had been suspended and sought assurances that it would remain on hold.”

A senior Pakistani official who was knowledgeable about Grandi’s meetings with leaders in Islamabad confirmed to VOA that Pakistan had halted deportation of Afghans. However, the official did not specify the duration of the suspension. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly to the media.

“Our message to Grandi was that the international community should fulfill its responsibility for the upkeep and repatriation of Afghan refugees. It’s a shared responsibility and shouldn’t be left to Pakistan to lift the entire burden,” the official said.

The decision to suspend the evictions of Afghans was taken on “humanitarian grounds” because of deteriorating economic and humanitarian conditions facing impoverished, war-ravaged Afghanistan, said Pakistani and U.N. officials.

During his visit, Grandi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior Pakistani officials, and his talks mainly focused on the fate of about 3 million Afghans.

According to Pakistani and U.N. officials, of those, about 1.3 million are officially declared refugees, nearly 900,000 hold Afghan citizenship cards, and the remainder are without documents, or their visas have expired while waiting to seek asylum in third countries after fleeing the August 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

Repatriation action

Pakistan unleashed a crackdown last November on all foreigners illegally staying in the country, citing a dramatic rise in militant attacks and attributing them to people residing among the refugee populations. The move has largely targeted more than 1 million Afghan migrants and asylum-seekers who lack legal documents or valid visas.

Pakistani and Afghan officials say close to 600,000 Afghans have been repatriated to their homeland since the deportation campaign started.

During his stay in Pakistan, Grandi also traveled to Afghan refugee localities in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including its capital of Peshawar, and met with their representatives.

“In the meantime, as Pakistan continues to host some 3 million Afghans, all solutions need to be explored in addition to voluntary repatriation, including third-country resettlement and longer-term solutions within Pakistan,” concluded the UNHCR statement.

Islamabad maintains that anti-Pakistan militant groups entrenched in sanctuaries in Afghanistan have stepped up attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians since the Taliban returned to power in the neighboring country three years ago.

Taliban authorities have criticized the expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan and dismissed allegations they are allowing militants to use Afghan soil to threaten neighboring countries and beyond.

Strengthen Anti-Taliban Resistance Fronts Through Aid, Advises Former US NSA

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Bolton

Afghanistan International: John Bolton, former US National Security Advisor, told Afghanistan International that the Taliban must be sidelined to resolve the crisis in Afghanistan. He expressed support for strengthening anti-Taliban forces and called for sending US military aid to resistance groups in Afghanistan. On Monday, July 8, Bolton stated that meetings between US officials and the Taliban, especially intelligence officials from both sides, benefit the Taliban more than the US, as they grant legitimacy to the group. Click here to read more (external link).