Pajhwok Afghan News, 31 more illegal Afghan nationals arrested in Sindh, 10 November 2022
“PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Thirty-one Afghan citizens have been detained on their way to Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, a media report said on Thursday […]”
Amnesty International, Afghanistan: “They don’t treat us like humans”: Unlawful returns of Afghans from Turkey and Iran, 31 August 2022
“Since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled the country. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, more than 180,000 Afghans in need of international protection have arrived in neighbouring countries since 1 January 2021, but the overall number of Afghans with international protection needs is likely to be much higher. Most of the men, women and children who attempt to cross into Iran do not have valid travel documents and put their lives at risk to make the journey. Many of them are pushed back into Afghanistan, some remain in Iran, and some travel the length of Iran before attempting a similarly dangerous crossing into Turkey. This report presents Amnesty International’s research on the hazardous journey undertaken by Afghans fleeing their home country. It documents unlawful killings, pushbacks by shooting and other unlawful returns, arbitrary detention, and torture and other ill-treatment of Afghans at the hands of both Iranian and Turkish officials. It is Amnesty International’s position, in line with UNHCR, that no Afghan should be returned to Afghanistan, because of the real risk of serious human rights violations they could face there. Based on the findings of this report, Amnesty International also concludes that no country should forcibly return Afghans to either Turkey or Iran, where they would be at real risk of unlawful return to Afghanistan.”
TOLO News, Afghans Deported From Iran Recount Hardship, 6 August 2022
“Afghans who were recently deported from Iran have spoken out about experiencing extreme hardship and and mistreatment. Afghanistan’s citizens say they faced threats to reach Iran but were deported after weeks. Khaled and his sister Fatima and the rest of their family were forced to come to Afghanistan by Iranian forces. They illegally went to Iran through Nimroz. “We were compelled to go to Iran, here there no working opportunities.
Everyone knows that illegal trips come with problems. There, you can find difficult work with low incomes,” said Khalid. “When they arrested us, we were faced with immoral and hideous threats. Some of them are good people, but many them think Afghans are not human,” said Fatima. […] “Some Afghans, mainly singles, complained about the treatment of Iranian forces across the border. They claimed mistreatment and torture by Iranian forces,” said Mohammad Reza Khalili, a border official. “There are problems in the ways against refugees. They sometimes expel them from Iran,” said Mallawi Sediqullah Nusrat, head of the Refugees and Repatriations Directorate of Nimroz. Hundreds of Afghans daily head to Iran to seek work opportunities, but Iranian officials deport those who illegally arrive.”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Gandhara, Taliban's New Chaperone Rule Deprives Afghan Women of Foreign Scholarships, 8 July 2022
"But Afghan women are now being deprived of studying abroad because the Taliban is not allowing women to travel outside Afghanistan without a male chaperone.
The restriction follows a Taliban ban on education for teenage girls, which has kept millions of secondary-school students from the classroom since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August. "I had a hellish experience because of this restriction," says Hadia Tuba, who recently went to Pakistan to begin her university education on a scholarship from Islamabad.
The young Kabul resident says the day she crossed the Torkham border crossing connecting eastern Afghanistan to northwestern Pakistan was the hardest in her life."The Taliban stopped me at the border and questioned me for the entire day," she told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "Eventually, I was let go after a stern warning [that I should never travel alone]."
Tuba says the intimidation she felt was difficult to describe.
"I will never forget what happened, but I don't like to talk about it," she said. The restriction has forced entire Afghan families to leave the country.Sonia Ahmadi was forced to bring her parents and siblings with her when she went to the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad to attend Ferdowsi University. "It is a major problem that no woman is allowed to travel alone, whether by road or by air," she told Radio Azadi. "The gender discrimination against women is pushing Afghanistan backward.""
UNOCHR, Oral update on Afghanistan Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 15 June 2022
“The enforcement of a strict hijab rule continues; barriers are in place for women’s access to employment, including for female NGO workers performing their duties; there are no opportunities for women to participate in public and political life; and their freedom of movement has been severely restricted. Let me be clear: what we are witnessing today in Afghanistan is the institutionalised, systematic oppression of women. Limiting women’s freedom of movement negatively impacts almost all aspects of their lives, including the ability of women and their children to access and to participate in health services, livelihood and humanitarian aid.”
Gandhara, Gandhara Briefing: Taliban Rift, Afghan Musicians, People Smuggling, 3 June 2022
"Radio Azadi reports on the one sector of Afghanistan's collapsing economy that is thriving: the smuggling of people trying to escape the country. The Taliban has banned the transit of undocumented migrants across the border to Pakistan and Iran. But smugglers have overcome the ban by bribing corrupt Taliban border guards."We fit about 20 people in each vehicle, and the Taliban charges 1,000 afghanis (about $11) per car," said Mahmud. He earns $800 a month smuggling up to 150 people weekly from Zaranj in Nimroz into Iran."
Gandhara, Escaping Afghanistan: People-Smuggling Thrives On Bribes To Taliban, 27 May 2022
“The Taliban has tried to stem the flow of Afghans attempting to escape economic ruin and persecution. But, despite an official ban, the smuggling of undocumented migrants to neighboring Iran and Pakistan continues to rise with the help of Taliban border guards and officials willing to look the other way. As Afghanistan's economy collapses, its citizens continue to leave the country en masse in a trend that began to rise with the announced withdrawal of foreign forces in the spring of 2021 and which spiked after the Taliban seized power in August. Iran, a major destination country, has clamped down by beefing up security along its 900-kilometer border with Afghanistan and deporting tens of thousands of Afghans. Taliban authorities in the southwestern province of Nimroz, which abuts Afghanistan's borders with Iran and Pakistan and serves as a major migration hub, have banned human smuggling in an effort to stem the outflow.”
IOM, MOVEMENTS IN AND OUT OF AFGHANISTAN [14 May to 20 May 2022, MOVEMENT SUMMARY - AFGHANISTAN TO AND FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES], 27 May 2022
“The reporting week observed a slight increase in inflow movement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Afghanistan, with 23,535 individuals compared to 20,091 last week. However, the outflows decreased from 6,631 last week to 4,810 during this reporting period.
• Crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan significantly increased in both inflows and outflows, with an average of 9,077 outflows per day compared to 6,899 in the previous week and an average of 8,581 inflows per day compared to 6,258 in the previous week.”
Khaama Press, About 5,000 Afghan citizens await German family reunification visas, 25 May 2022
"Afghan citizens must apply for family reunification visas through the German embassies in New Delhi and Islamabad after the German embassy visa office in Kabul closed in 2017.
The German government has said that in order to facilitate this process, visa offices have been directed to “make full use of their authority”. The time-consuming document evaluation will be suspended, and the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs will begin processing the applications, according to reports.
The difficulty of leaving family reunification visa applicants out of Afghanistan, particularly women who desire to travel alone, has been noted by the German government as a key impediment to the procedure. The Taliban, on the other hand, will not let them leave Afghanistan without a passport, and obtaining one is a difficult and time-consuming process."
Ariana News, IEA approves working process to bring exiled Afghan politicians home, 17 May 2022
“Organization procedures for the commission tasked with getting Afghan politicians and former government officials living abroad to return home have been approved by the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the commission is expected to start work soon. “In this commission, all faces, whether women or men, will be contacted, and everyone’s return plan is ready for the patriotic figures to be returned,” said Hassan Haqyar, a close allie of the IEA. But some political activists have raised questions about the future of any returning exiled Afghans. They have asked if the politicians for instance will be allowed to carry on with work as previously or whether they will have to give up politics and find another occupation. The same goes for former government employees. “We call on the Emirate, in order to implement the plan of this commission, to facilitate the work and activity of these figures again, and there must be a guarantee for everyone who returns, because everyone must see themselves in the mirror of the government,” said Sayed Jawad Hussaine, political analyst. However, Iran, which hosts a number of former politicians has once again called for the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
Recently, Anas Haqqani, a member of the commission, said that about 50 former government officials have so far returned to Afghanistan and that efforts are underway to bring back other political figures. The meeting of the Commission for the Return of Politicians and Former Government Officials was meanwhile convened shortly after former President Hamid Karzai was ordered to not leave the country."
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), Afghanistan airline launches Kabul to Moscow route, 27 April 2022
“Afghan Voice Agency (AVA)_The Russian Embassy in Kabul tweeted Tuesday that flights are scheduled to run weekly from Kabul to Moscow on Mondays and from Moscow to Kabul on Tuesdays.
Following the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in mid-August last year and the chaos at Kabul Airport during the evacuation operation, ceased operations and most foreign were suspended or canceled. The embassies of China, Iran, Russia, and Pakistan were among the few political representations of countries in Afghanistan that continued to operate after the Islamic Emirate (IE) came to power.In the past few months, the Islamic Emirate has been trying to reactivate Kabul Airport and has had many discussions with and Turkey.”
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), Travel restrictions eased for Afghans at Torkham, 26 April 2022
“Afghan Voice Agency (AVA)_Pakistani has decided to allow the Afghans to cross the till April 29 on producing their official identity card, called. The Express Tribune reported Pakistan would enforce a new strategy after the expiry of the deadline of April 29.”
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), Tazkira holder Afghans given 4 days to leave Pakistan, 25 April 2022
“He said: “Tazkira holders will be allowed to leave for Afghanistan via Torkham border crossing till 29th April 2022.All those who wish to return to their homes need to exit during this window. Normally, only patients are allowed crossings without on Torkham.” He added normally, only patients are allowed crossings without visas on Torkham.”
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), Afghanistan-Iran border crossing reopens, 25 April 2022
“The Dogarun border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran has been reopened after a day of tensions, both sides say.”
US DOS, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Afghanistan, 12 April 2022
“The pre-August 15 government’s law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation. The pre-August 15 government generally respected these rights. The Taliban generally respected these rights for citizens with sufficient identity documentation, including passports, but they prevented certain political figures associated with previous administrations from travelling abroad. Restrictions were also placed on women’s in-country movements. […] The Taliban stated they do not want citizens to leave the country but that those with foreign travel authorization and required documentation would be allowed to depart; Taliban leaders stated the right to travel is guaranteed by Islam. Enforcement of these “regulations” was inconsistent. Citizens with passports and visas for third countries were generally permitted to depart the country, and Pakistan was allowing pedestrians from Kandahar Province to cross into Pakistan and back for trade and day labor using only identity cards. The Taliban prevented certain political figures associated with previous administrations from travelling abroad due to concerns regarding possible political activities abroad. […]
In October the Taliban stated they would resume issuing passports, ending a months-long suspension that had diminished the limited ability of citizens to depart the country. According to local media, more than 170,000 passport applications received in August and September remained unadjudicated as of December 31. In December the Taliban announced that passport offices had opened in 25 provinces. Anecdotal reports suggested passports were not always issued impartially but rather reserved for individuals whom the Taliban deemed “unproblematic” or who could pay substantially higher prices for the passport. Some individuals associated with the previous administration reported being detained and beaten following their visit to passport offices. In October Taliban authorities closed the Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing into Pakistan. After a 27-day closure, the crossing reopened to pedestrians and trade. After the reopening, Pakistan reportedly permitted Kandahar tazkira (national identification card) holders – as well as individuals with medical reasons but without documentation – to cross the border. […] Access to Asylum: The pre- August 15 government did not create a legal and programmatic framework for granting asylum or refugee status and had not established a legal framework for providing protection to refugees. Since the takeover, the Taliban also have not created a legal and programmatic framework for granting of asylum or refugee status.”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Gandhara, Taliban Rows Back Comments Saying Afghans Barred From Leaving, 2 March 2022
“The Taliban's chief spokesman on March 1 rowed back comments he made suggesting Afghans would be barred from leaving the country, saying he had been misunderstood.
Zabihullah Mujahid sparked alarm over the weekend when he told a press conference that Afghans would need "an excuse" to travel abroad and confirmed Afghanistan's new rulers had put a stop to any more evacuation flights.After seizing power in August, the Taliban promised Afghan citizens would be allowed to come and go as they pleased -- as long as they had passports and visas for their destinations.
But on February 27, he told a press conference: "I have to say clearly that persons who leave the country along with their families and have no excuse...we are preventing them."On March 1, he tweeted that his "meaning" was: "Our compatriots who have legal documents and invitations can travel outside the country and can return to the country confidently."
The Taliban's deputy minister for refugees and repatriations, however, said on March 1 it was "not appropriate" for Western nations to invite Afghans abroad or facilitate their departure."To a larger extent, the international community is interfering in Afghanistan's affairs and are inviting people promising asylum," Mohammad Arsala Kharutai told a press conference. "This is interference and against international law, and we condemn it."
Mujahid's February 27 announcement alarmed many Afghans who have been promised asylum abroad after working with U.S.-led foreign forces or other Western organisations during the Taliban's 20-year insurgency. More than 120,000 Afghans and dual nationals were evacuated up to August 31 when the last U.S.-led troops withdrew, two weeks after the hard-line Islamists seized Kabul.
Thousands with similar links remain in Afghanistan, however, desperate to leave and fearful they may be targeted by the Taliban as collaborators. The last official evacuation by air was on December 1 although organized road convoys to Pakistan have taken place as recently as last week. Hugo Shorter, Britain's top envoy to Afghanistan based outside the country, said barring Afghans from leaving amounted to "unacceptable restrictions on freedom of movement."
Al Jazeera, Afghans with correct legal documents may travel abroad: Taliban, 2 March 2022
“More than 120,000 Afghans and dual nationals were evacuated up to August 31 last year when the last US-led troops withdrew, two weeks after the Taliban seized Kabul.Thousands with similar links are still in Afghanistan, however, desperate to leave and fearful they may be targeted by the Taliban as “collaborators”.
Diplomats have said efforts to evacuate thousands of Afghans who had worked with foreign governments and militaries and were eligible for visas in Western countries were getting harder in recent months. Regular evacuation flights organised by the US via Qatar were largely stopped in December over disagreement by the Taliban administration on who should be able to board, sources had told Reuters news agency. The last official evacuation by air was on December 1, although organised road convoys to Pakistan have taken place as recently as last week.”
UNHCR, Afghanistan Crisis update: Women and Girls in Displacement, 1 March 2022
“Despite the existential threats posed by conflict and the many gender-specific forms of persecution currently taking place in Afghanistan, many Afghan women and girls are not able to leave the country through regular channels. Restrictions on movement and the lack of documentation may pose challenges for women, especially at official border points. Unofficial border points are more remote, lack basic facilities, and often require travellers to employ smugglers, and those conditions put women and girls at further risk of violence.”
Khaama Press, Mullah Baradar asks Afghan youths not to leave country, 1 March 2022
“First Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar asked young people and experts in Afghanistan not to leave the country as it needs them the most. Speaking at the occasion of the second anniversary of the Doha agreement in Kabul on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, Mullah Baradar said that Afghanistan is fully independent now and is under no country’s umbrella.
The third man in power in Afghanistan further added that the IEA is willing to have friendly relations with the entire world and that they welcome all positive schemes for the development of Afghanistan.
“Doors of universities and professional studies in Afghanistan are open for all students so the experts and elite members of Afghan society do not need to leave Afghanistan.” Said Baradar.
Furthermore, he acknowledged that rebuilding Afghanistan is a shared responsibility of all Afghans and the IEA welcomes all constructive schemes and notions in this regard. He urged the Afghan youths to continue seeking education so that they get experts in science, technology, and other professional fields.This comes as universities across Afghanistan have been reopened but students do not attend the classes with the same number as they would do prior to the Taliban takeover.”
Khaama Press, Mujahid claims to be misconstrued about travel restrictions on people, 1 March 2022
“The chief spokesperson of and Deputy Minister of Information and Culture of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.Zabiullah Mujahid claims that his remarks about travel restrictions on people have been misunderstood.
Mujahid in a Twitter post on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, said that the imposition of restrictions is only for those who illegally try to leave Afghanistan. “Those of our fellow countrymen who have legal documents and invitations from other countries can easily travel out of Afghanistan and can come to the country.” Reads the Twitter post.
Earlier on Sunday, Zabiullah Mujahid said that people can no longer leave Afghanistan as Afghan refugees are going through bad living conditions abroad. He had also added that evacuation will not be allowed until the Afghan people in exile gets good treatment from the host nations as they (the Taliban) are responsible for the good life of the Afghan people.”
Ariana News, Afghans with legal documents, invitations can travel: Mujahid, 1 March 2022
“Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) said on Tuesday that Afghans with the necessary legal documents and invitations from foreign countries can travel without any limitations. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the IEA and deputy minister of information and culture, on Tuesday clarified his comments made Monday on the travel ban. He said people in possession of the correct documents are free to travel but those without legal documents are banned from leaving the country.
“Our compatriots who have legal documents and invitations can travel abroad and come to the country with confidence,” tweeted Mujahid. Mujahid’s comments on Monday sparked widespread reaction.
Among the organizations that reacted was Human Rights Watch.
“It is important to keep in mind that if you are not allowed to exit from home and engage in legal issues. It means you are not allowed to have access to schools, and health services. It means you are not allowed to be safe from domestic violence. It is horrific that women will be at home,” said Haidar Bar, head of the Afghanistan Human Rights Watch.
Some women’s rights activists said that if the IEA issues limitations on women, they would be contradicting their commitments to the international community.
“IEA vowed they will allow women to have access to their fundamental rights like political engagement and education. But now the women’s demands are destroyed,” said Zarghana Wali, an activist.
“If women are not allowed to leave their country, they can’t continue their activities; Islamic Emirate should change their policy regarding women,” said Tarana Adib, another activist.”
France 24, Taliban ban Afghans from evacuating amid massive security sweep, 28 February 2022
“The new travel ban was announced late Sunday by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who packaged the restrictions as being aimed at preventing hardship for Afghans abroad.
Evacuations organised by nations or non-governmental organisations have been banned, while even families attempting to leave the country by their own means now need "an excuse", or they will be stopped by immigration. [...] The announcement came the same weekend a search for "kidnappers, thieves and looters" kicked off in Kabul and other Agfhan cities -- a so-called "clearing operation" separate from the travel measures. The new travel restrictions will alarm tens of thousands of Afghans who have been promised asylum abroad after working with US-led foreign forces or other Western organisations during the Taliban's 20-year insurgency.
More than 120,000 Afghans and dual nationals were evacuated up to August 31 when the last US-led troops withdrew, two weeks after the hardline Islamists seized Kabul. Thousands with similar links are still in Afghanistan, however, desperate to leave and fearful they may be targeted by the Taliban as "collaborators".”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Gandhara, Taliban Bans Afghans From Evacuating Amid Massive Security Sweep, 28 February 2022
“The new travel ban was announced late on February 27 by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who packaged the restrictions as being aimed at preventing hardship for Afghans abroad.
Evacuations organized by nations or nongovernmental organisations have been banned, while even families attempting to leave the country by their own means now need "an excuse," or face being stopped by immigration. "I have to say clearly that persons who leave the country along with their families and have no excuse We are preventing them," Mujahid told a press conference late on February 27.
Women will also not be able to fly abroad unless accompanied by a male relative -- mirroring similar domestic restrictions introduced last year that bar solo travel for women between cities and towns.
"If they (women) want to travel abroad, they should have a chaperone," Mujahid said. "This is the order of Islamic Shari'a law."”
Khaama Press, Taliban halts evacuation until Afghan refugees’ livelihoods get better, 28 February 2022
“As tens of thousands of Afghans claiming to be eligible for evacuation still await flights from Kabul, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that no evacuation operation will be allowed until the livelihoods of Afghan refugees get better.
Speaking in a press conference in Kabul on Sunday, February 27, 2022, spokesman of the IEA Zabiullah Mujahid said that the living situation of those who left Afghanistan in the past six months must be assured first so that they allow further vacation because they are responsible for the lives of Afghans.
Zabiullah Mujahid said that are fully aware of the very bad situation of the Afghanis who are still in camps in Abu Dhabi or without camps in Turkey.This comes nearly a month after thousands of Afghan evacuees in Abu Dhabi protested and complained about their destiny is unclear as they have been living in the camps for more than six months. After the Taliban takeover on August 15 last year, about two hundred thousand people have been estimated to have left Afghanistan to seek refuge in Europe or America. Earlier the IEA had agreed on two flights in a week with Qatar Airlines.”
TOLO News, MoI to Kabul Police: “Professionals” Must Run Checkpoints, 23 February 2022
“At a security meeting, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) leadership ordered security forces to not open fire on individuals at checkpoints. Police should respect the honor of the people, and they have to maintain the lives and property of people,” said Mawlawi Sultan Ahmad, the general director of the auditing department. Meanwhile, several residents of Kabul expressed their optimism over the decision made by the Ministry of Interior, while others claimed that the security forces mistreat the people. “At the checkpoints, one of them says stop, the other says go, drivers cannot decide what to do, so they fire in such circumstances,” said Obaidullah.”
TOLO News, New Special Unit to Increase Kabul Security, Monitor Checkpoints, 22 February 2022
“The Interior Ministry said it has set up a special unit to monitor checkpoints in Kabul. Officials of this unit say they will mount night patrols tasked with preventing armed robberies and monitoring the activities of the security forces. According to officials, the 500-strong unit is equipped with advanced military weapons and for the past two weeks has have been conducting patrols to ensure the security of the people and to monitor the checkpoints and security areas of Kabul.“These checkpoints are good, they are effective, the more checkpoints mean better security,” said a Kabul resident.””
MilitaryTimes, Afghan evacuation flights to resume with streamlined process, 27 January 2021
“After a nearly two-month pause, evacuation flights from Afghanistan to Qatar are set to resume, Shawn Van Diver, founder of #AfghanEvac, told Military Times. Additionally, Van Diver said that measures to shorten the visa process are being implemented, potentially trimming a years-long process down to months. “We are glad that it looks like we might be able to be restarting that,” Van Diver said in a phone interview. “And hopefully, we can have a reliable, repeatable process that continues to evacuate folks.” According to Phil Caruso, Chairman of No One Left Behind, official evacuation flights carrying Afghans who worked with the U.S. to Qatar stopped in early December. Caruso and other members of the organization told Military Times that the cessation was caused by a rift between the Qatari and the new rulers of Afghanistan over Taliban migrant workers seeking entry to Qatar. The Taliban sought space for these workers on flights carrying evacuees to Qatar, a concession the Qatari government resisted.”
AVA Press, Kabul passport office head urges patience as anxious crowds keep gathering, 13 December 2021
“As winter closes in and the economic crisis deepens in the wake of the abrupt of foreign aid after the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) takeover in August, the crowds around the biggest passport issuing centre in the country underline the desperate desire of large numbers of citizens to leave.
“We have done our best to reopen the office but we are still facing some equipment shortages,” passport office head Alam Gul Haqqani told Reuters in an interview on Sunday. Last month the office was forced to close after equipment used for issuing broke down under the pressure of processing thousands of applications a day but demand has built steadily.
Even though the office has been closed for weeks, hundreds of people still gather outside the fortified compound clutching plastic document files. [...] A number of provincial passport offices are still open and officials in Kabul are processing around 2,000-3,000 passports from these offices each day, he said, but it was still unclear when the Kabul office would reopen.”
Al Jazeera, Taliban fighters man Afghanistan’s urban checkpoints, 9 December 2021
“Many Taliban foot soldiers now have new jobs: manning checkpoints on the streets and carrying out security patrols in and around Afghan cities and towns.”
UNHCR, Document - Afghanistan Situation External Update - 1 December 2021, 8 December 2021
“During the reporting period, UNHCR has highlighted the escalating risks faced by Afghans seeking to flee into neighbouring countries as the situation within Afghanistan continues to deteriorate. Afghanistan’s land borders with Pakistan and Iran are open almost solely to those with the required passports and visas, though a small number of medical cases are permitted to exceptionally enter Pakistan without documents. The land borders of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan remain closed to Afghans. While official borders remain closed to the vast majority of Afghans, UNHCR is aware of asylum-seekers crossing into neighbouring countries through unofficial channels. Many entering Iran report having sought the assistance of smugglers to leave Afghanistan. Most Afghans have told UNHCR and partners they were exposed to serious protection risks on the journey – including extortion, beatings, and other violence, particularly against women and girls. In Iran, local media continue to cite the Iranian authorities continue to estimate upwards of 5,000 newly arriving individuals per day into Iran.”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Gandhara, ‘No Reason To Stay’: Taliban Repression, Economic Collapse Accelerate Exodus From Afghanistan, 2 December 2021
“He now plans to join the thousands of Afghans who are escaping the country each week. Many of them pay smugglers to take them westward to neighboring Iran, from where some will hope to reach Europe. [...]
The journey is dangerous. Afghans who have illegally crossed borders in the region have been arrested, beaten, shot at, and even killed by border guards, smugglers, and criminal gangs. Others have drowned or died of illness and exhaustion.”
The Diplomat, No Place for Afghan Refugees in Central Asia, 29 November 2021
“Central Asian countries remain closed to refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan and uninterested in changing their restrictive policies. [...] Meanwhile, the Taliban seem to be honoring the request of bordering Central Asian states and Russia to prevent border crossings.”
Pajhwok Afghan News, Opportunists fleecing Afghans trying to leave country, 25 October 2021
“Pajhwok Afghan News findings show some people have demanded tens of thousands of dollars from people wishing to leave the country against a promise of individual and family visas.However, government officials say those behind of such cases have been identified and will be brought to justice. Following the fall of Afghanistan’s previous regime on August 15 this year, a number of countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, and Australia, announced that Afghans who worked with them in Afghanistan, would be evacuated to the countries. According to reports, more than 120,000 Afghans have been evacuated so far, including journalists, civil society activists, translators, former government security personnel and others.
At the same time, many Afghans are trying to take advantage of this opportunity to move to the United States or Europe with their families. Some people are trying to involve in trafficking persons using the opportunity and take illegal money from people who plan to leave the country. A Facebook page named, (Tourist Company providing European countries visas and free consultation for asylum) in a post said, “US individual visa, there are limited chances, anyone who are matching the conditions should hurry up”.
The post says that the US immigrant visa processes for a person is charged $28,000 and it could be provided in 20 days. Two visas of Canada for a family of two is for $50,000 and for a three member family it is for $60,000. A number of Facebook users who commented to the post said that officials of the company have deceived people; some others said that the company lied while others required more details.
The post has given a telephone number, which a Pajhwok reporter dialed and sought details from the recipient, who identified himself as “Umrah.” He said “Right now we have Canadian visas, we have individual visas for the United States, we have many individual visas.”
He said a Canadian visa would cost 27000 dollars. He said they had American visas as well and each visa would cost between 29,000 and 27000 and 26000 dollars. The visa process time is 25 to 30 days. “You will be included in this program. Family visas will be announced next week. Our work is 100 percent sure.”
The person said they took no money in advance. The money should be kept with a money changer and they would receive the money once the visa was confirmed.A Facebook page “Afghan Bazaar” also wrote that a Canadian visa was being made available in 45 days.
A phone number on the page was contacted by this scribe. The call recipient refused to give his name. He said a Canadian visa would be provided in 45 days against 22,000 dollars. He also said they do not demand money in advance.
Similarly, Pajhwok has obtained an audio clip in which a person says “There are Afghans who can receive visas from embassies against 10000 dollars. Why don’t we do this, we have Wakil Sahib in the embassy, if we introduce five people and each gives 50000 dollars, it is enough money.”
In a second audio clip the same person says: “there are Afghans who want to go abroad to the US, Europe and other countries. I am in the embassy and I will introduce someone in the embassy who can obtain visas. You can ask people to give up to 25000 dollars which we will distribute among ourselves.”
Similarly, a resident of Kabul, Melad Sahibzada, said he had talked with a human smuggler who lived in Mazar-i- Sharif. The smuggler told him he could evacuate people in flights to foreign countries from Mazar and Kabul.
“A single person is charged 10000 USD and a family is charged 20000 dollars. The flight is confirmed in a week. One should provide ID card, passport, telephone number and email address.”
The Human First Coalition, which facilitates the evacuation of American citizens and their Afghan allies from Afghanistan, also says it has received information that someone is trying to deceive Afghans who want to leave Afghanistan safely. [...]
The group insists that these people are deceiving Afghan families and people should know that those who call these numbers are not providing real service because the Human First Coalition never asks for money in return for services and cooperation in evacuating people from Afghanistan. Zabihullah Mujahid, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, told Pajhwok Afghan News that they were investigating the claims and in case of any violation, they would act according to the law.”
Pajhwok Afghan News, Hundreds of nomads, passengers denied entry into Pakistan, 13 October 2021 [subscription only]
“Hundreds of nomads and passengers are stranded in Agnur Ada area of Barmal district in southeastern Paktika province after being denied entry into […] [Pakistan]”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Gandhara, Taliban Uses Force And Fear To Push Hundreds Of Afghans From Tajik Border, 8 October 2021
“Thousands of Afghans camped out in Afghanistan's Badakhshan Province on the border with Tajikistan hope to leave their country and Taliban rule. Many had been at the border for weeks but now the Taliban has forced hundreds to flee the area amid reports of death threats from the militants […]”
Reuters, Plane carrying Afghans, U.S. and European citizens from Kabul arrives in Doha, 17 September 2021
“The third chartered flight bringing civilians from Afghanistan to Qatar since U.S. forces withdrew last month landed on Friday with around 170 passengers on board, including U.S. and European citizens as well as Afghans, a Qatari official said.”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Gandhara, Pakistan's PIA To Restart Islamabad-Kabul Commercial Flights, 11 September 2021
“A spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) says the airline plans to resume special charter flights to and from Kabul next week in order to help evacuate people who want to leave Afghanistan. PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan told the AFP news agency on September 11 that the airline had received "all technical clearances for flight operations" to resume.”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Gandhara, Gandhara Briefing: Return Of The Taliban Emirate, 10 September 2021
“On September 9, the first civilian flight since the Taliban took over Kabul airport, mainly evacuating people with foreign passports to Qatar, raised hopes that the Taliban would allow the evacuation of foreigners and vulnerable Afghans to proceed. Western governments have been pushing for such flights since the Taliban refused to let chartered planes take hundreds stranded in Mazar-e Sharif.”
Human Rights Watch, What’s Next for Afghans Fleeing the Taliban?, 9 September 2021
“2. Are Afghans entitled to leave the country? [...]
Taliban authorities have been quoted saying they do not want Afghans to leave the country. They have provided assurances that Afghan citizens with foreign travel authorization will be allowed to depart, however setting this requirement violates the right to freedom of movement.On August 30 the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution that expressed the expectation that “the Taliban will adhere to their commitments,” and referenced Taliban promises that:
Afghans will be able to travel abroad, may leave Afghanistan anytime they want to, and may exit Afghanistan via any border crossing, both air and ground, including at the reopened and secured Kabul airport, with no one preventing them from traveling, including regarding the safe, secure, and orderly departure from Afghanistan of Afghans and all foreign nationals. It remains to be seen if the Taliban will adhere to these commitments.”
OCHA, Afghanistan, Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 August – 5 September 2021), 13 September 2021
“On 5 September, Kandahar airfield resumed daily flights from Kabul and Hirat provinces. The Spin Boldak border crossing remained open to Pakistani identification card holders, Afghans with Pakistani visas and commercial truck movements.”
TOLO News, Taliban Preventing Planes From Leaving: US Rep. McCaul, 6 September 2021
“Michael McCaul, a US representative for Texas and the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the Taliban was preventing six airplanes from taking off from Mazar-e-Sharif airport in the northern province of Balkh.McCaul says there are six airplanes at the Mazar-e-Sharif airport with American citizens on board, along with their Afghan interpreters, and the Taliban are “holding them hostage,” AP reported.The Taliban, however, rejected the claim, saying anyone holding travel documents is allowed to travel out of the country.”