Afghans who were assured of resettlement in the United States after escaping the Taliban's rule are now facing distressing circumstances as their visa applications remain unprocessed, leading some to be forcibly deported back to Afghanistan from Pakistan, CNN reports.
After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021, many Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan while awaiting visa processing under U.S. guidance. However, the prolonged delay has resulted in their deportation back to Afghanistan, exposing them to grave risks.
Speaking anonymously for their safety, some deportees shared their experiences of being dropped at the Afghan border by Pakistani police, without any protection from the Taliban's reach. One man, along with his family, now lives in hiding in Kabul, fearing for their lives. Another Afghan, who used to work for a U.S. contractor, expressed concerns about the Taliban's retaliation, stating that he might face imprisonment or worse.
The situation has been exacerbated by the backlog of visa applications, particularly the Afghan Priority 2 (P-2) or Special Immigrant Visas (SIV). Although nearly 90,000 Afghans have been resettled in the U.S., many others are caught in bureaucratic delays. Human rights groups highlight the critical situation faced by those in Pakistan, where hundreds of Afghans have been deported due to a crackdown on migrants.
Amidst the challenges, activists report that at least two young Afghan men have taken their own lives in Islamabad, both awaiting US P-2 visas, emphasizing the mental and economic pressures they endure. The failure to open a Resettlement Support Center (RSC) in Pakistan has further stalled visa processing, leaving Afghan asylum seekers in distress.
The U.S. State Department acknowledges its commitment to assisting Afghans who worked with the U.S., but processing capacity in Pakistan remains limited. While urging Afghanistan's neighbors to keep their borders open for asylum seekers, the situation continues to raise concerns about the safety and future of those awaiting resettlement.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Threads pages to keep up to date on world news.
Comments (0)