officials pointed out the closure of the Attari-Wagah border emphasising that the decision would affect Afghan traders An Indian Border Security Force personnel inspects passport and documents of Pakistani citizens returning to their country through the India-Pakistan Attari-Wagah border post after New Delhi withdrew visas for Pakistanis and Islamabad in response cancelled visas of Indian nationals ISLAMABAD – Afghanistan officials on Sunday expressed their concern that the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India would have a “direct negative impact” on Kabul and the region the deputy director of the Afghan foreign ministry’s Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) said: “Since Pakistan and India are located in our neighbourhood it will have a direct negative impact on the region and Afghanistan.” “We are currently interacting with both countries in the light of our balanced policy.” Zaland was speaking during a roundtable discussion at an academic conference titled “Tensions in Pakistan-India relations and their impact on the region” according to a foreign ministry statement posted online On April 23, India had announced the closure of the Attari checkpost, alongside other measures. The next day, Pakistan responded by shutting the Wagah Border for any trade with India However, despite Pakistan allowing 150 stranded Afghan trucks carrying goods for India to cross the Wagah Border, India has not permitted them to cross into its territory leaving truckers from Afghanistan in a mess According to the central leader of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) Pakistan has also not permitted vehicles carrying items imported from India to enter Afghanistan Afghan traders said up to 2,000 containers carrying goods have arrived at Karachi ports from India under the transit agreement with Pakistan But these vehicles are stranded in Pakistan with some waiting at Torkham and Chaman to enter Afghanistan CSS Director Waliullah Shaheen discussed the historical background of the tense relations between Pakistan and India stating that the two nuclear-armed countries would not enter into war and would find a solution to the problem the first political director of the Afghan foreign ministry delivered a keynote speech at the roundtable discussions Discussing the factors behind the recent escalation of the conflict between Pakistan and India he noted that the Pahalgam attack had exacerbated the long-standing tension such as the closure of the Wagah-Attari border Afghanistan’s commercial goods were practically stuck causing significant damage to the Afghan trade sector the Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan] needs to prepare for potential incidents in advance,” the official stressed Noting that Afghanistan had “commonalities and positive interactions” with both Pakistan and India Noor stated his country did not want a war between the two arch-rivals in light of the Islamic Emirate’s balanced and economy-oriented policy and because regional stability and security are important to the Islamic Emirate we will strive to resolve this conflict peacefully,” he said spoke about the legal aspect of India’s potential threat to disrupt flow of water after it suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty Kamil observed that blocking the river for a long time seemed technically difficult and also had various legal aspects according to international law this issue has also emerged as a significant consequence of the tension in relations,” he added Dozens of foreign ministry employees participated in the discussion where they shared their opinions and analyses on various aspects of the issue Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar presided over a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) in Islamabad today to follow up on the outcomes of his recent visit to Kabul Dar’s visit to Afghanistan on April 19 marked the high point of a renewed re-engagement process between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban administration after months of diplomatic deadlock, border clashes and mounting security concerns During his trip there, Afghan­istan’s acting prime minister, Mullah Hasan Akhund, had assured Pakistan that the Afghan territory would not be used for hostile activities against any country In the meeting led by Dar today, officials from Mofa and relevant ministries were briefed on the progress in implementation of earlier decisions, according to the Foreign Office reaffirmed “Pakistan’s vision for a peaceful neighbourhood The meeting was attended by Pakistan’s Special Representative to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq and senior officials from various ministries says prison is ‘nearest thing to hell I can imagine’ A Briton held captive by the Taliban for more than nine weeks has said he is living in dire conditions in a prison in Kabul describing it as “the nearest thing to hell I can imagine” In a recording of a phone call from Pul-e-Charkhi prison also spoke of his fears for the safety of his wife who is being held in the women’s section of the the maximum-security jail “I’ve been joined up with rapists and murderers by handcuffs and ankle cuffs, including a man who killed his wife and three children, shouting away, a demon-possessed man,” Reynolds said in recordings shared with the Sunday Times Reynolds said he was living in “a cage rather than a cell” but described his circumstances as “VIP conditions” compared with where his wifewas being held He said he had lost weight and received only one meal a day Hall was also detained, but she was released last weekend after the Trump administration lifted bounties worth $10m (£7.8m) from the heads of senior Taliban figures including Sirajuddin Haqqani, the interior minister. Peter Reynolds said that when he was detained, he was initially told the plane lacked proper landing permission and they would be released. Instead, their phones were confiscated and they were transferred to the interior ministry in Kabul, where the couple were separated then locked up in Pul-e-Charki prison. Reynolds said he was told by the Taliban that they had confiscated 59 books from their home that were “against Islam”. He was asked why they had them. “I asked: ‘Can you tell me any part of those books which is against Islam?’” he said. “No one has been able to, so I think it’s an outrage. “They have interrogated more than 30 people who worked with us in Yakawlang and Kabul, including our accountant and tax people, and we had to put our thumbprint on a nine-page-long CID [criminal investigation department] report and they said they could find no crime. That was three weeks ago but still they haven’t released us. “These things are an utter disgrace and shame. The Taliban have made a mistake and need to face up to it.” Afghan children are seen at a refugee camp in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, May 5, 2025. More than 250,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in April, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported late Sunday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, May 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 250,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in April, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported late Sunday. "Among them are women and girls, who face an uncertain future with restrictions on education, jobs and freedom of movement. Any returns must be voluntary, safe and dignified," the UNHCR posted on its X account. Nearly 7 million Afghan refugees, most of whom are undocumented migrants, are currently living abroad, with most living in Iran and Pakistan. The Pakistani government is set to expel 3 million Afghans to their home country in 2025, while Iranian officials have asked undocumented foreign nationals to end their illegal stay and return to their homes. High levels of poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan are driving its citizens to leave the war-ravaged country in search of employment opportunities abroad, particularly in Iran and Pakistan. ■ Returning Afghan refugees are seen at a camp in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, May 5, 2025. More than 250,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in April, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported late Sunday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) An Afghan child is seen at a refugee camp in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, May 5, 2025. More than 250,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in April, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported late Sunday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) POLITICSTÜRKİYEWAR ON GAZABIZTECHFEATURESOPINIONWORLD2 min readMoscow to help Afghan Taliban fight DaeshZamir Kabulov refers to Daesh as the common enemy Taliban says it is working to wipe out the group’s presence in Afghanistan.Play articleYour browser does not support the audio element.ShareFILE PHOTO: Taliban members celebrate on the second anniversary of the fall of Kabul The Taliban says it is working to wipe out Daesh’s presence in Afghanistan 2025Russia will help the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan fight against the Afghan branch of Daesh Moscow’s special representative for the country told the RIA state news agency on Friday referred to Daesh as the “common enemy” of Moscow and Kabul “We see and appreciate the efforts that the Taliban are making in the fight against the Afghan wing of Daesh,” Kabulov told RIA in an interview “We will provide our best assistance to the authorities of (Afghanistan) through specialised structures.” The move signals Moscow’s intent to normalise ties with the Afghan rulers whom it now considers allies in countering terrorism No country currently recognises the Taliban government that returned to power in August 2021 as US-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war Kabulov’s comments underscore the dramatic rapprochement in recent years between Moscow and Kabul which President Vladimir Putin said last year was now Russia’s “ally” in combating terrorism formally removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations Russia has been left reeling from multiple Daesh-linked attacks including the shooting of 145 people at a concert hall outside Moscow last March which was claimed by Daesh US officials said they had intelligence indicating Daesh was responsible The Taliban administration says it is working to wipe out the group’s presence in Afghanistan Kabulov said Moscow and Kabul were building up ties in multiple spheres and told RIA that Russia had offered to accredit an Afghan ambassador in Moscow and was waiting for Kabul’s response He said Moscow’s suspension of the ban on the Taliban “finally removes all obstacles to full cooperation between our countries in various fields” “The arrival of the Afghan ambassador in Moscow will put a final end to this issue.” Russia said last month it aims to strengthen trade leveraging Afghanistan’s strategic position for future energy and infrastructure projects Kabulov said joint economic projects would be discussed at a Russia-Afghan business forum later this month in the Russian city Kazan naming mineral development and gas pipeline projects as possible areas of cooperation You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Kabul used to be a great place with the best schools and universities In Kabul there was a university by the name of American University Everyone wanted to go to American University when they graduated from school The National Museum of Afghanistan and restaurants people celebrated special days like Valentine’s Day when the city would be decorated with red roses museums – everything – but these places aren’t like they were before TV shows featured singers who were invited to come and sing songs Kabul was a beautiful place for me in the past but there was always fear in their hearts because most explosions in Afghanistan happened in Kabul One of the saddest explosions was at Kabul University in 2020 when students were studying in class as men with guns stormed the campus and killed at least 22 people These kinds of terrorist attacks always took place in cars Attacks like this were shocking and very scary I just prayed that there wouldn’t be an explosion that day These good years – from 2001 to 2020 – didn’t last long The end of our happy days came in 2021 when the Taliban returned to Kabul left in 2021 when the Taliban came back to power At that time people were trying to get out of Kabul Everyone was afraid of the Taliban and wanted to leave including those who had worked with foreigners It was my last exam at school and I was about to solve the exam paper when suddenly I heard the sound of gunfire All of us students were surprised when suddenly the school principal came and said that we should all go directly home Restrictions increased every day in Kabul and other provinces Women cannot go from one province to another province without men and they aren’t allowed to go to parks or work at a job outside the home Girls who could no longer go to school started secretly studying their lessons in online schools and courses We all want to get a scholarship and continue our education abroad but still there are many people who cannot study online The reason is that the internet is expensive in Afghanistan and not everyone can afford that Pakistan and other countries to find money and support their family I wish that one day Kabul would become the beautiful place it used to be Nazanin Boniadi is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.  “This incredibly important, worthwhile organization should be supported by everyone who cares about quality, ethical journalism.” — Nat Hentoff, First Amendment expert, in 2016 Consider making a recurring monthly donation Youth Journalism International / 30 Taylor St All donations in the USA are tax-deductible Pope Francis admonished us to humility and simplicity NIGERIA – Nigerian chess player Tunde Onakoya set a new Guinness World Record for the.. Nazanin Boniadi is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International from Afghanistan Youth Journalism International connects student writers artists and photographers with peers around the globe and promotes and defends a free youth press “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” – Article 19 Youth Journalism International works all over the world. Click here to view a map of our impact You can find Youth Journalism International on Facebook Copyright © 2025 Youth Journalism International | Crafted by Cornershop A tailor is pictured at a tailor shop ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr in Kabul People shop at a local market ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr in Kabul Lost your password? KABUL (Pajhwok): In the wake of escalating tensions between Pakistan and India the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has emphasised the importance of regional peace and stability The caretaker government would endeavour to address the Pakistan-India hostilities through peaceful means¸ promised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Kabul The MoFA recently organised a roundtable discussion — Tensions in Pakistan-India Relations and Their Regional Impact — an initiative of its Strategic Studies Centre The session examined the escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and its implications for the wider region The tensions were sparked by the April 22 attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir where unidentified gunmen killed 26 people India claimed the attack had “cross-border links” and accused Pakistan-based groups of involvement — an allegation Islamabad has strongly denied During the discussion Strategic Studies Centre deputy head Hikmatullah Zaland highlighted the objectives of the meeting and stressed the importance of Afghanistan’s balanced foreign policy “In accordance with our balanced approach we maintain engagement with both Pakistan and India,” Zaland said He warned further escalation would have direct and adverse effects on the region the two countries would not resort to full-scale war and would instead seek a diplomatic resolution Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor said the attack on tourists in Kashmir had deepened existing tensions prompting both countries to take measures that were already impacting Afghanistan He cited the closure of the Wagah border crossing as an example noting the move obstructed Afghan trade flows and caused considerable harm to the country’s commercial sector Noor underscored the imperative of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) being prepared for “potential developments” He reiterated Afghanistan’s neutral stance pointing to its shared interests and constructive relations with both countries “Afghanistan does not wish to see war between the two countries,” he said economy-oriented policyand considering that regional peace and stability are priorities for IEA we will continue to pursue a peaceful resolution to the dispute.” discussed the legal aspects of the current crisis focusing particularly on the issue of Indus River Water Treaty He explained while the technical feasibility of halting the river’s flow was questionable in the long term such a move would also entail complex legal ramifications under international law he acknowledged the water issue had emerged as a significant consequence of the growing tensions between the two countries rested and scrolled through social media — a lifeline for news in a country where electricity to power TVs and radios is in short supply — a photo began to ripple through Facebook and X Their tactical gear bore FBI patches; their faces were masked by balaclavas and camouflage The detainee’s disheveled hair and hollow eyes hinted at exhaustion The caption identified him as Afghan national Mohammad Sharifullah (also known as Jafar), arrested in Pakistan and handed over to the U.S. as a “top terrorist” mastermind behind the August 2021 Kabul airport bombing that killed more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S in the alleys of Kabul where the attack’s scars still gape “This is a show,” a well-placed source who requested anonymity told New Lines “The real architects of that bombing were a team and most of them were killed in Taliban raids in south and western Afghanistan.” trying to help a relative on the evacuation list I joined thousands of Afghans camped overnight outside the abandoned NATO military gate at Kabul International Airport Families collapsed in exhaustion; others clawed forward an Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) bomber detonated himself in the heart of a crowd pressed against the airport fence a taxi driver warned me against visiting the site “The flashes of bodies … backpacks torn open,” he muttered ISKP operated under a shadowy leadership council who were central to planning the airport attack were later eliminated by the Taliban in Herat and Nimroz provinces in April 2023 calling them the masterminds of the Abbey Gate bombing as the August 2021 Kabul airport attack came to be known The news came as rumors were circulating that the Taliban lacked the intelligence capacity to hunt down top ISKP leaders involvement in the Herat and Nimroz operations emerged following the April 2023 operation These doubts were fueled by analysts and regional experts who questioned the Taliban’s independent capacity to target high-profile ISKP figures given the group’s limited technical and intelligence infrastructure officials were “confident of the mastermind’s identity and death,” as White House national security spokesperson John Kirby put it to reporters “We didn’t have anything to do with this,” he added denying that Washington had supplied any information or other assistance an ethnic Tajik from central Afghanistan also known by the alias Engineer Ajmal was a low-level ISKP operative with no formal education He joined the group in 2016 as it was losing territorial ground in eastern Afghanistan His role remained minor — not a strategist or bomb-maker shuffling messages and propaganda materials for the Kabul-based cells he was arrested by the U.S.-backed Afghan government and jailed until the Taliban’s swift takeover of Kabul on Aug 2021 — which triggered a chaotic collapse of governance and mass panic in the city — when he was freed along with thousands of prisoners he couldn’t even stand as an imam,” a second well-placed source told New Lines “Pakistan needed a favor from Washington,” the source claimed while Trump needed something to take credit for at his forthcoming congressional address grappling with surging unrest from Baloch separatists and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan — also known as the Pakistani Taliban armed factions aiming to destabilize the Pakistani state — sought U.S financial backing and diplomatic leverage to stabilize its institutions amid political As the Taliban intensified its crackdown on ISKP launching raids across Afghanistan — including Kabul Nimroz and northern Mazar-e-Sharif — the group’s fighters scattered when Pakistani forces detained him in a raid.  timed conspicuously to precede President Donald Trump’s March 4 address to Congress Analysts and regional observers noted the proximity between the handover and Trump’s speech speculating that the timing was politically strategic — a claim reinforced by the absence of prior public U.S The Biden White House had already confirmed nearly a year earlier that the bombing’s true architects had been killed in a Taliban operation The case of Jafar reveals how political convenience often overrides real accountability his arrest offered a tidy headline to soften the humiliation of withdrawal; for Pakistan it was a bargaining chip to secure aid amid its own crises Afghans sift through the rubble of shifting narratives — where today’s “mastermind” becomes tomorrow’s footnote and the deadliest single attack of the war fades into a script written by distant powers The reduction of the Abbey Gate bombing to a diplomatic prop reflects a broader reality: Decades of foreign interventions in Afghanistan have relied on fragile alliances with local actors While the Taliban now claim to fight ISKP and U.S ordinary Afghans are caught between an isolated regime — unrecognized by the international community and strained by Western sanctions — and ISKP’s relentless violence The unresolved legacies of a war that promised stability and left only instability weigh most heavily on those who remain and whose survival hinges on navigating the agendas of powers near and far “Spotlight” is a newsletter about underreported cultural trends and news from around the world, emailed to subscribers twice a week. Sign up here Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy social media footage and resident testimony investigation shows trail of devastation as houses razed in the Afghan capital they claimed there was a need to modernise Afghanistan’s historic capital reveals that the Taliban’s regeneration programme has left thousands of people homeless and had a brutal impact on the most vulnerable communities with claims of properties being demolished with children still inside social media footage and testimony from Afghan residents the findings offer a first comprehensive insight into the Taliban’s ambitious redevelopment of Kabul – but also its true cost Satellite analysis indicates that 1.56 sq km (385 acres) of the city – the equivalent of more than 220 football pitches – was flattened within the city between August 2021 and August 2024 Most affected was Kabul’s District 13, a predominantly Hazara area The investigation also analysed the large-scale razing of “informal settlements”. In some cases, the destruction of the sprawling slums, which are typically inhabited by poorer communities displaced by conflict or climate change – have been conducted so brutally that residents reported injuries and deaths Children on a road under construction in Kabul At least three children are alleged to have died as a result of the clearances Photograph: Bloomberg/GettyIn at least two settlements residents allege that homes were demolished with people still inside In one large slum – in Kabul’s District 22 – evicted families alleged that a four-year-old and a 15-year-old died during its demolition children and elderly men were begging for them to stop the destruction until we can find a shelter but they wouldn’t listen,” said a resident who had spent a decade in the settlement after being displaced from Pakistan He claimed in the aftermath of the demolition his young niece also died from lack of shelter after their home was destroyed during the heat of summer Satellite images of an informal settlement in Kabul’s District 5 before demolition and after demolition Imagery by Planet Labs PBC.Residents who attempted to film such demolitions were reportedly beaten In another significant destruction of an informal settlement in the north of the city, the Taliban’s administration in Kabul tweeted a series of photos in August 2024 chronicling bulldozers razing structures Residents described scenes of mayhem and desperation as the site was demolished. “It was like the earthquake in Herat [which killed thousands last year] Houses were buried; all our belongings were also buried,” said one resident The crude shelter one resident’s family in District 4 has been living in since the demolitions.Others testified that homes were demolished with people inside crying that his mother and brother were inside the house and the loader was demolishing it,” said one who lived in the settlement with nearly 50 family members for two decades said he could not afford to rent a new home and was now living in an abandoned factory “We don’t even have tents – we just have shelters made from plastic pieces Many of the land-clearance projects in residential areas are for building or widening roads an urban planner who worked with the former Afghan government said: “Most of these plans were part of previous government plans but they were unable to be implemented because they couldn’t force people to evacuate the area but with the majority of the population living below the poverty line demolishing homes to build wider roads doesn’t address underlying issues,” he said Satellite imagery showing a road project in Kabul’s District 9 Imagery by Planet Labs PBC.Human rights groups say women are particularly vulnerable after eviction warning it can increase gender-based violence reveals the difficulties of female-led households she earns between one and three dollars a day and has struggled to get compensation from the Taliban after they demolished her home in a residential area in north Kabul One reason is that she is not allowed into Kabul’s municipal offices without a male guardian to accompany her Residents say fear has prevented them protesting over the loss of their homes Photograph: X/Municipality statusAnother woman who lost her home in the same area can no longer work due to Taliban restrictions her family must rely solely on her husband’s modest income repairing shoes Of a dozen people evicted who were interviewed for the investigation only one had found permanent accommodation since their eviction Residents say fear prevents them from protesting at the destruction of their homes The demolitions come months after the UN warned that Afghanistan’s economy had “basically collapsed” with rampant food insecurity and 6.3 million people displaced within the country Her family stopped travelling to the municipal offices to ask for their compensation when they could no longer afford the bus fare. The Taliban authorities have not commented on the findings. They have previously justified the demolition of informal settlements as reclaiming stolen land acquired by “opportunists and usurpers”. They also state that residential land is often cleared for infrastructure projects. * Additional reporting by Sabrina Slipchenko, Elyas Nawandish and Kreshma Fakhri Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Family brought to the UK on Afghan resettlement scheme plead to be reunited with their two eldest sons I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A security guard who worked for the British embassy in Kabul for almost two decades is calling on the Home Office to help him reunite his family after he was evacuated during the Taliban takeover, but his two eldest sons were forced to stay. Hamidullah Fahim and his wife Zaghona were brought to the UK with two young children in December 2023, on a dedicated scheme for employees of the British Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. However he couldn’t bring his two eldest sons, who are now 21 and 22, because they are over the age of 18. Mr Fahim is now pleading with the Home Office to be reunited with them in the UK. Though the family applied for Najibullah and Hasibullah to be evacuated to the UK from Afghanistan, where they currently live with their grandmother, their applications have been rejected twice by officials. Mr Fahim said that while the family tries to speak to the two eldest sons regularly on the phone, it has been hard to be apart. “It has affected them and us both. We want to do whatever we can to be reunited with them and to let the Home Office know of the injustice that has been carried out in our case. “It is especially difficult for our young children who get upset whenever we speak to them, and for my wife who is struggling a lot”, he explained. His wife Zaghona is struggling to sleep, and suffers from nightmares where she sees her son being harmed, a report from a social worker found. She can be withdrawn from the family and is often tearful, according to the assessment. Before the Taliban takeover, Hasibullah and Najibullah never lived independently and were dependent on their parents. Their parents and two young siblings, aged 13 and 15, were evacuated to Pakistan in early 2023 and left the eldest sons behind in the hope that when they got to the UK they would be able to apply for reunification. The family of six, including the eldest sons, were told to come to Kabul airport during the chaos of the 2021 evacuation, along with hundreds of other GardaWorld staff who had worked at the British embassy, with the view that they would all be brought to the UK. However, they were told to leave the airport after a suicide bomb blast prevented their evacuation. They were then moved on to the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which didn’t include Najibullah and Hasibullah. Mr Fahim worked as a security guard at the British embassy in Kabul from 2004 to 2021 and therefore qualified for pathway three of this scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, an eligible person can only bring children under 18 with them to the UK. The Foreign Office, who run pathway three of this scheme, offered the family the chance to submit a separate application for their two eldest sons but Mr Fahim’s attempts to take advantage of this have not been successful, compounded by the fact that the family don’t speak English. Nick Beales, from charity Ramfel who are supporting the family, said that the father had “persistently sought to communicate with the FCDO about sponsoring his children to relocate to the UK, but when these avenues hit a brick wall they had to proceed with making an application to the Home Office”. In the UK, the family do not have refugee status and therefore are not normally eligible to sponsor family members under the Refugee Family Reunion policy. Their applications have so far been rejected twice by the Home Office. One of the older sons, Najibullah, said: “Before our parents left we had a good life, we used to study and go to school... but currently we are not studying and we don’t have money to do that. When they left, I was extremely upset, I became very unwell and they gave me IV fluids, but I have hope that in future things will get better and we will be able to reunite with our parents.” Masuda, who is 15, said that she dreams that she will be reunited with her brothers one day. She explained to a social worker: “In Afghanistan we used to make a slide out of the snow – we used to play together, it was so fun. “It’s not good being separated especially when I see my mum crying. It affects her quite a lot.” A Home Office spokesperson said: “It is our longstanding policy not to comment on individual cases.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/gallery","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"WhatsApp Image 2025-04-23 at 16.01.48","description":"An Afghan family who have been evacuated and now live in the UK ","caption":"Hamidullah Fahim with his wife Zaghona and their two youngest children in the UK Hamidullah Fahim with his wife Zaghona and their two youngest children in the UK govt and politics"},{"score":0.750383,"label":"/family and parenting/children"},{"score":0.670032,"label":"/law govt and politics/armed forces"},{"score":0.667035,"label":"/law Let me reunite with my sons’","description":"Family brought to the UK on Afghan resettlement scheme plead to be reunited with their two eldest sons This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Officials accuse Mohammad Sharifullah of being a member of the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate A suspected participant in the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed 13 American service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan arrived in the US on Wednesday to face criminal charges in connection with the attack Mohammad Sharifullah was taken into custody over the weekend and admitted during an FBI interrogation to being a member of the Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan and to his role in the August 2021 suicide bombing and other attacks Donald Trump announced the arrest during his Tuesday night address to Congress telling the audience that he was “pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity And he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.” Senior Pakistani intelligence officers on Wednesday confirmed the arrest and said Sharifullah had been captured in the country’s restive south-west Balochistan province near the border with Afghanistan after multiple operations had failed to seize him Sharifullah is charged in federal court in Virginia with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization he wore a light-blue jail jumpsuit and listened through headphones as an interpreter translated the proceedings His public defender declined to comment after his court appearance which ended with him being taken away for holding at least until a detention hearing set for Monday in the waning days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country amid the withdrawal by US forces from the country occurred in August 2021 when a suicide bomber attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airport about 170 Afghans were killed in the attack which triggered widespread congressional criticism and undermined public confidence in the Biden administration’s handling of the conclusion of the war According to an FBI affidavit filed as part of the case Sharifullah admitted under questioning to having joined the Afghanistan-based Islamic State-Khorasan He told investigators that he had been in prison from 2019 until about two weeks before the bombing at which point he was contacted by another Isis-K member about helping in the attack as well as instructions for communicating via social media during the attack operation He admitted to participating in the Abbey gate attack by scouting a route to the airport for the bomber and communicating to other members of the militant group that the path was clear Sharifullah said he had been instructed to leave the area and later learned that the bombing had been done by an Isis-K operative he had met while jailed The bomber was identified as Abdul Rahman al-Logari an Islamic State militant who had been in an Afghan prison but was released by the Taliban as the group took control of the country that summer During his FBI interrogation, Sharifullah also said he had shared firearms and weapons instructions before a March 2024 attack at a Moscow concert hall that was also carried out by Isis-K and killed scores of people Sharifullah was arrested in 2019 by the US-backed Afghan government at the time but escaped from prison on 15 August 2021 The Pakistani officials said Sharifullah had planned the bombing from behind bars with other senior militant figures They said he had remained on the run in the border areas of Balochistan until his arrest through a joint intelligence-sharing operation between Pakistan and the US Free newsletterA deep dive into the policies controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration thanked Trump for “acknowledging and appreciating” the country’s role in counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan “We will continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability,” Sharif said on the social media platform X declined to comment beyond saying that the arrest “on Pakistani soil” of an Afghan national and member of the Islamic State group shows that IS group figures “have taken refuge and established havens” inside Pakistan “This issue has nothing to do with Afghanistan,” Mujahid said The regional Islamic State affiliate is a rival group of the Afghan Taliban repeatedly condemned Biden’s role in the Afghanistan withdrawal on the campaign trail and blamed Biden A review last year by US Central Command concluded that the attack had not been preventable despite assertions by some service members who believed they had had a chance to take out the would-be bomber but did not get approval speaking on the condition of anonymity Tuesday night to discuss a case that had yet to be unsealed said Sharifullah’s arrest came after fresh US intelligence community coordination increased intelligence sharing and pressure on regional partners to bring those responsible for the attack to account since Trump’s swearing-in in January Lost your password? KABUL (Pajhwok): The prices of cooking oil but rates of other food items stayed stable during the outgoing week in Kabul said the price of a 49-kilogram bag of Indian sugar went down from 2,550afs to 2,500afs the price of a 49-kilogram sack of Kazakh flour decreased from 1,350afs to 1,300afs and a 16-litre bottle of Malaysian cooking from 1,700afs to 1,650afs The price of a 24-kg bag of Pakistani rice remained unchanged at 2,600afs a kilogram of African black tea at 400afs and the same amount of Indonesian green tea at 350afs put the retail price of a 49-kg bag of Kazakh flour at 1,350afs a 24-kg bag of Pakistani rice at 2,650afs and a 49-kg sack of Indian sugar at 2,550afs A 16-litre bottle of cooking oil accounted for 1,700afs one kilogram of black tea for 400afs and the same quantity of green tea for 450afs said the price of one gram of Arabian gold decreased from 6,100afs to 5,950afs and the same amount of the Russian variety fell from 5,000afs to 4,700afs A worker at the Ahmadyar pump station told Pajhwok one litre of petrol cost 61afs while liquefied gas sold for 50afs He put the price of one kilogram of diesel at 58afs owner of the Sadaqat Money Exchange Service said the local currency strengthened during the week as one US dollar was traded at 70.70afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 245afs one US dollar accounted for 71.20afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees 247afs The spike in the afghani value is essentially linked to periodic dollar auctions by the central bank who was freed from the Taliban before the group’s return to power Timothy Weeks had reverted to Islam and was known as Jibra’il Omar spokesman of the interim interior ministry had been “suffering from the cancer for a long time.” Omar “was captured by the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) in the past years then he was released from prison during the exchange of prisoners,” said Qani referring to the pre-2021 era when the group was fighting US-led foreign forces who taught at the American University of Afghanistan They were released in a prisoner exchange in November 2019 for the Taliban trio Anas Haqqani who were freed from the Bagram prison in Parwan province Haqqani was flown to the Qatari capital of Doha which hosted the Taliban’s political office the US signed a deal with the Taliban in Doha which paved their return to power for the second time since 1996 The Taliban took control of state institutions in August 2021 and have since ruled the war-torn nation Omar accepted Islam due to “his self-satisfaction,” according to Qani “He was very fond of Afghanistan and the Islamic Emirate and based on that and he considered it best to live in Kabul,” he said Omar traveled to different provinces during his stay in Afghanistan “Fate brought us together at a crossroads where my death became his we crossed through those red lights,” he said after news of Omar’s death and we spoke like long-lost friends,” he wrote X Omar “left the land where he was born (Australia)… He stayed with us for the bond of faith and belief holds deeper meaning than any other connection,” he added In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry is welcomed by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul meets Afghanistan’s Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul It was the first visit by an Iranian foreign minister to the Afghan capital since 2017 Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said Iran was committed to the return of some 3.5 million Afghan refugees and had no intention of interfering in its neighbor’s domestic politics according to a statement from the Afghan government’s deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat He also called for the full implementation of the Helmand River water treaty Acting Prime Minister Hassan Akhund asked Iran to treat Afghan refugees with respect and said it was not feasible to manage a large-scale repatriation within a short period He also said incidents such as the execution of Afghans in Iran provoked public sentiment Aragchi also met Afghanistan’s foreign minister Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted Aragchi as saying he hoped for more economic ties and improved relations with Afghanistan But Tehran maintains political and economic ties with Kabul and has allowed the Taliban to manage Afghanistan’s embassy in Iran’s capital Extreme Poverty Current Crises view all About Us Mission & Values Our Team US Offices International Offices Extreme Poverty Disasters Violence & Conflict Mass Displacement Israel/Gaza War in Ukraine Chad and Sudan Conflict Volunteer Opportunities Advocate Resources Church Partner Church Resources Become an Affiliate Open Positions When Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021, millions of lives were put at risk. Since then, we have welcomed and walked alongside many Afghan families seeking safety in the United States.Three years after the fall of Kabul we convened a panel of Afghans and humanitarian workers responding to meet the needs of displaced Afghans in the U.S and those who remained in their home country They share updates on what’s happening now and how we can best support Afghan communities during this challenging time Watch the webinar or read the full transcript included below *Views expressed by panelists in this webinar are their own and do not necessarily represent those of World Relief 4 ways to take action on behalf of Afghans and others experiencing displacement today: Mark: Welcome everyone and thank you for showing up today to discuss three years after the fall of Kabul with this commemoration as we remember the regime change and what is going on in Afghanistan today I just want to thank you for joining us and listening in here whether a panelist or an attendee listening in please know you are important to World Relief and even just by showing up here it is so encouraging to us and to our friends across the US and the world Our mission at World Relief is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church I’ll be the first to admit we’ve been through many tough seasons of crises in these years including those that are seemingly forgotten by the world but at World Relief we are committed to not forgetting those who are suffering vulnerability one of our values is to intentionally go to the most fragile places in the world and to push into what they are experiencing and how we can help Thank you for being here and for standing with us today My name is Mark and I’m a training advisor here at World Relief directing some of our efforts to equip churches with learning resources and opportunities around all different kinds of immigration and refugee issues I am delighted today to get to interview some of our Afghan friends across the U.S as well as global partners as we reflect on this three-year point in time since the fall of Kabul For security today we’re just using our first names Muzhgan is with us as a community ambassador She came from a teaching and education background where she helped empower women and girls through education and training and financial sustainability Her current role here in the US allows her to work with people from many different cultural backgrounds to help them also achieve that same sustainability and to be independent Thank you so much for being here with us today He is an Afghan immigrant that has served in his past work as a supervisory security investigator at the U.S embassy in Kabul in Afghanistan for over four years and so he has extensive expertise in security operations and crisis management where he works in family services as a community navigator and offers assistance and support to the Afghan community in his California town He is dedicated to fostering unity and resilience with the diaspora community of Afghanistan here Thank you Ajmal for your work and for being here She arrived to the United States as a refugee and was resettled through World Relief in 2001 with her two children She navigated her new life here in this country by working as a seamstress and interior designer She is now working as a groups coordinator specialist with refugees and immigrants giving back through all that she’s learned She is happily married with six wonderful children now Shola: Thank you so much for having me here Anna works with a humanitarian and relief organization located in Afghanistan Her support office where she’s based is in Europe and they provide health and nutrition emergency food assistance programs we’re so glad you’re here with us to share some insights on the ground as well on what you’re seeing Thank you so much for joining us as a World Relief partner I just want to start by expressing my deep solidarity with you all as we remember and commemorate what happened in Afghanistan three years ago We as World Relief are here not just to listen but to hold space for your stories We recognize the immense courage that it takes to share experiences like this I just want you to know that our hearts are with you This is a safe space and we’re committed to walking alongside you and with the people of Afghanistan Your voices matter deeply to us and we are standing here with you in unwavering support If ever the questions I ask you today don’t sit right You’re welcome to say as little or as much as you’d like We are here to listen anytime you want to share more but there’s no pressure I confess as I was preparing to facilitate this conversation my heart was not prepared as I researched to learn in detail about the severe humanitarian crisis that Afghanistan continues to face Just to set some of the landscape for us who are listening millions of people remain in need of aid due to the economic collapse and conflict that continues in the country The Center for Strategic and International Studies is saying that the country is in a state of economic free fall so it’s reliant heavily on international aid which is diminishing as the international community struggles to balance humanitarian compassion with concerns that they might actually be supporting the Taliban regime The Afghan population has paid the price of that with currency shortages Many Afghans have limited access to shelter and education Roughly 6.3 million people are internally displaced persons within Afghanistan have worsened living conditions for everyone hindering aid efforts too as these restrictions on employment and dress and freedom of movement segregation of men and women in public life end up complicating humanitarian operations as well and access to basic services This is just some of the context about what I was reading and my heart was broken I can’t imagine yours but I would just love to start by asking you what is in your heart How are you feeling after three years when you talk to loved ones in Afghanistan or those who have been resettled here in the US Help us get a real human pulse on what are the greatest challenges that are still facing Afghans today After being in the United States for three years completed my ESL classes and got admission at EWU to continue my education I got a full-time job at World Relief Spokane that I love My family is very happy for me that I resettled here in the United States They are still living in back home Afghanistan My sibling and my dad want to come here and get settled in the United States People from my community who live here in Spokane are so thankful for the opportunities especially the work opportunities and education that they have here in the United States they are so happy for the bright future of their children Especially now when the Taliban has banned girls to continue their education after grade six If we talk about the challenges that the people face there are multiple challenges that Afghans face back home Girls are not allowed to go to school after grade six and there’s less job opportunities Especially after the collapse of the Afghan government most of the doctors and the healthcare workers they fled the country and now there are not enough people to provide the service to the people Especially the biggest challenge is women in labor as they are now on their own during their childbirth Afghans who live here in the United States and Spokane A majority of them don’t know how to speak English They don’t have their driving license They are not familiar with the bus transportation which is totally different from what they used to have back home It’s hard to find the kind of job they had back home in Afghanistan The people who run their small businesses back home it’s not easy to start a new business here in the United States Learning the new skills without having and knowing the language is the hardest thing for them My heart goes out to you with the loss of your mother as well Thank you for sharing everything that you have I wonder if there’s anything you would add as well I can say that a couple of days ago I had a chat with my friends I was just trying to see how they are thinking about this third year that we are suffering that was from different categories of Afghan community That was from new arrivals and also from elite and also from the academic figures I found that we are all having similar feelings Afghans are currently from different categories They are feeling that they are divided in two parts They are back home with the tons of emotions they just end up to Western countries in order to seek resettlement let’s check how these two parts are doing Those who are in resettlement and the actual part of our soul but mentally they are having trauma of displacement They are having even to an extent I can say social challenges in the US the mental part of the people that they are physically here but mentally they’re also connected back home They are super connected with their beloved ones that they are suffering from a variety of uncertainties back home Whether that’s a political uncertainty I would ask the question back from you and from the people who might watch this gathering in future can they imagine how Afghans are doing nowadays and they are just struggling day-to-day life and they are having a lot of connections and a lot of feelings and a lot of challenges back home Mark: I love that challenge for us to remember and to imagine Help us understand the challenges and the realities people are facing I want to say thank you for having me here and I’m very honored and grateful to have this opportunity to speak today with you As Muzhgan and Ajmal mentioned regarding the challenges still facing today here in Afghanistan it’s incredibly difficult for all of us to see that the situation back in Afghanistan has not changed at all are still grieving the loss of their homeland but still resilient and hopeful to build their future in the United States There are many challenges Afghan face today misunderstanding and learning to navigate a new world Afghans who arrive in the United States are starting from zero We have all been separated from our childhood friends and now focus has shifted to how we can rebuild ourselves again here There are many cultural shocks and financial struggles that are hard to adjust to they feel alone and need support system from outside the community also.  one of my sisters arrived to the United States The first time after we say hello to each other and as she gave me her time I arrive safe here and my kids have a good future here.” The people are unfortunately still hopeless Thank you for opening your heart to us on that Anna: I feel like I should start by saying that I feel slightly daunted I’m very honored to be the only non-Afghan person speaking on the panel I don’t want to by any means undermine anything that my Afghan colleagues are saying by the things that I say I guess what I can try to do is represent the voices of the Afghans that I’ve met who are still in Afghanistan and try to provide a perspective from what I know from them You mentioned how are people feeling and what are the challenges that they’re facing I think as I talk to some of my Afghan colleagues a sense of hopelessness and a sense of uncertainty about what the future might bring Many people are concerned for the future of their children and what life in Afghanistan will be like for them There are lots of people who would like to leave Afghanistan still but are not able to The processes to leave Afghanistan are not easy They involve spending more than a year in a third country where you have no means of financial support potentially not qualifying for refugee status Although there are many people who would like to leave many people are conscious that it’s not likely to be possible for them I think it is fair to say that at least for some people there’s a sense that at least there is more security than there was before the security situation is better than it used to be in most parts of Afghanistan There’s less fighting and conflict than there was that’s the one thing that they can hold on to but at least we feel a bit safer than we did before I think the exclusion of women and particularly the lack of opportunity for education for girls and families is a huge concern to people there’s not everybody that agrees with women not being educated I think there’s widespread concern about that among a lot of the population That contributes to the sense of what’s the future going to hold for my family the economic situation is really difficult just the daily struggle to survive actually takes up a lot of time and energy I think it’s also worth saying that there are other factors also of concern to people Climate change has been having a big impact on Afghanistan We’ve already had a couple of years in the last few years where there’s been very serious droughts This winter is also predicted that there’ll be less precipitation than normal and so there’s the fear that there may be more drought next year It’s not just the political situation but also the lack of opportunities and the difficulty of making a living and having a good life for your family in the place where you are which I think is also a big weight for people to carry in spite of all of these crises and the temptation towards hopelessness and resignation that exists Although the situation for the people remains very tenuous perhaps there are small ways in which we can see things improving or stories of change or possibility holding in deep tension with all that you all have shared not to gloss over those realities because those are real and there’s not a simple solution to them I wonder if you could share any words of hope or rays of light even as the situation in Afghanistan remains very difficult Muzhgan: I think having a clear goal and working hard is what brought me all the way here started working night shift at Amazon Fulfillment Center while I was raising my three-month-old daughter and taking care of the home My husband used to work a full-time job and he also drove for Uber and Lyft on the weekends All that hard work and tough time paid off Now I have a job at World Relief that I love My daughter goes to daycare and my husband has a full-time job and goes to school Thank you for sharing just a glimpse of your story I so long to see more of this across the United States families to open their hearts and lives to others like yourself To see you now giving that love and welcome back to your community and to our nation as well and to others who have faced similar circumstances Ajmal: I would say that I see the hope in Afghan children although they are struggling in day-to-day life I see a big hope on Afghan diaspora all over the world I see how kids are mastering with the new lifestyle in my city or I can say in the U.S I see that how kids are mastering with various languages and I see how they are picking [up] quickly the skills These things somehow give me and my friends and my family a big hope that a big change is on the way I see how Afghan adults are trying their best to learn new skills in the U.S I’m seeing how they are starting their own small businesses I see that Afghan diaspora all over the world They are trying to have the global attention toward Afghanistan and when I see the Afghan diaspora all over the world I hope that it will happen sooner or later and we will see [again the] Afghan flag shining in capital city There are so many people who have that longing to see restoration Shola: I also want to say regarding the hope they also appreciate the right and the gift of America I’m always saying that the first generation is always sacrificing their life to the second generation to build their life we can also improve ourselves or adjust our life also They have a good education and bright future I’m thinking that is the hope we have for [the] next generation women are killed for what is basic rights in the United States the freedom to choose what [they] want to wear and the opportunity to go to the school is very special to us The Afghans here have hope for their future the people back home have no hope and no future in this moment Thank you for sharing what’s in your heart I want to add some other thing regarding all Afghans want to — if there’s hope to come all Afghans want to change the regime to where all Afghans from different ethnic group can live in peace and freedom The people hope that the United States review the policy with Afghanistan and the outside nations step in and help empower the Afghan people and women from all different ethnic groups what would you add as well from where you’re sitting I think I find some hope in the fact that at least there’s not as many people dying because of explosions There’s better security than there was that means that we’re able to reach communities with assistance who really were not possible to reach before because of the insecurity I find hope in the fact that we can bring help to people that haven’t been able to have help before I find hope in seeing the women in our team who do still work in Afghanistan and because we’re doing health and nutrition programming and running health centers we are able to have female doctors and nurses who work in those health centers but they come to work with joy and throw themselves into that work The way that they support the fellow women that they meet in the clinics and the way that they treat them with dignity and the way that they persevere in spite of the obstacles without by any means wanting to criticize those who have left Afghanistan I guess I find hope in that I know a few Afghans who have opportunities to leave and have chosen to stay I think that was a really hard decision for them to make I guess there’s hope in the fact that there are people who want to still be there and still be trying to change things from the inside That also gives me hope that they’ve made those difficult choices Thank you for saying that because I think it’s always a tension our hearts often in this work are crossing borders I’m married to a woman who’s an immigrant from another country as well I think we all have a unique role to play in this work of restoration and wanting to see peace and justice done Thank you for sharing those bits of what hope might look like from the next generation We’re just longing for peace and flourishing to come to the nation again Thank you all for sharing those examples of hope with everything that’s been said and shared whether we are spiritual leaders or just people of influence in our communities or in our church congregations across the United States What is the most important thing that we should do right now to support Afghanistan and its people If you could leave us with one top recommendation A big thank you from the bottom of my heart I know and I see how World Relief has a positive impact on our community that without your help and support Everything from welcoming the newcomers to the airport to getting them their first grocery teaching them how to use bus transportation All of these are so essential and they are needed and appreciated by our communities I would say to help people in Afghanistan be the voice of those who don’t have their own voice or they cannot raise their voice for their rights Especially Afghan girls are banned from all aspects of social life in Afghanistan They are not allowed to go to school after grade six what would be your top recommendation for churches community members around the United States it’s pretty common to see the public message toward the leaders toward the influential figures with the criticism As Muzhgan started an approach with a positive message I would also follow her and I would start my message toward the leaders with a positive sign Afghans are deeply grateful for whatever welfare assistance that they are receiving nowadays in different cities of the U.S They are absolutely blessed with this assistance I feel like although they receive good assistance but sometimes I feel like they are still feeling homesick They are feeling that something is incomplete in their life I believe for completing that missing portion we need to have more cross-cultural programs for Afghan communities in order to find and to feel a more deep understanding about the U.S I wouldn’t say this only for Afghans We need to have more cross-cultural programs every Afghan has a story and they just need a proper platform They just need a proper path to share their stories let’s not forget that those stories one day will make history Sharing our stories together in a safe and supportive community is a healing journey for both sides the exchanging the culture with the community or in a partnership someone like a volunteer come to individuals they are still not driving and they have a lot of medical problems and doctor appointment They need someone to be a very close connection and relationship with them to help them I want the leader who is on this call or who is listening please educate yourself about the history in politics in Afghanistan by reading books or watching videos It can help you better understand the situation today and how the Taliban regained power again and the U.S Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world The only country in the world to ban girls from attending to the school There are people who are still left behind and without embassy closed and the neighboring country also deporting people back Please advocacy and advocate for these people Your part is crucial because you have empowered the voices that have been silent or ignored please advocate for these people in Afghanistan I’m going to share some tools in just a moment about how you can take practical steps toward learning and advocacy if anyone listening is interested I know you’re not in the United States like the rest of us It’s focusing on people who are still in Afghanistan What would you say leaders across the country should be considering as they look at all that we’ve shared Anna: I thought about that and I thought of a few things The first thing I think I would say to people of faith who might be listening is pray for Afghanistan pray for people to be able to hold onto hope because I think praying for hope is always an important thing that we can do I think that’s something that anybody can do wherever they are perhaps more focused on the situation in Afghanistan itself is that there are many people who are still in need of very basic things There are organizations who are working to help I think sometimes in the political debates the message isn’t very nuanced and some of the arguments that are being made politically are in danger of depriving average Afghans of the assistance that they need Try to educate yourself about some of the things that are being discussed rather than just going with the polemics Try to make sure that ordinary Afghans aren’t suffering because of political decisions that are made Then I really agree with the things that my Afghan colleagues have said just in general about welcoming strangers where you are I think we need to step outside of our comfort zones and actually build connections with people Don’t just smile at somebody and say hello I think people come alive when they can talk about something which is close to their hearts and which comes from the culture that they love Often when people have been uprooted from their culture they don’t have the same opportunity to share that with people Taking the chance to learn and to enrich ourselves by learning about another culture but I think it’s also really helpful to people who are struggling to find their place in a new culture and trying to unite those two parts of themselves that Ajmal mentioned that can feel very torn apart and divided I just want to say to those who are listening thank you again for being here with us and for taking the time to listen and reflect I just want to share some practical ways that you can take next steps as well if you are moved towards advocating for Afghans I want to encourage you to reach out in the U.S to your congressperson and tell them that you support what is called the Afghan Adjustment Act This is a bipartisan bill that was introduced in Congress It acknowledges the plight of Afghan nationals who faced the threat of persecution and were paroled to the United States after the Taliban takeover Many of whom have worked tirelessly alongside the U.S diplomatic missions and NGOs risking their lives to support the cause of peace and stability in the world We have a responsibility to these people and to speak the truth to our leadership about these individuals who are in danger They’ve been our allies and partners in promoting freedom and justice and human dignity We’re thankful that they’ve found refuge in the United States but some still only have temporary legal protections right now Scripture is clear for believers and church leaders about our role to embody compassion and justice towards those in need churches and organizations around the United States volunteers and community members have given very generously of their time and resources to welcome Afghans We need to provide them also with a clear pathway toward permanent legal status you can see where you can advocate for Afghans in need here It explains more about the Afghan Adjustment Act how you can contact your local representative It’s an easy tool here for you to edit and adapt this communication to share why you support the Afghan Adjustment Act and ensuring that vulnerable Afghans have the support and status they need to build a secure life if you want to learn more about Afghanistan and the beautiful history and culture of this place that our country has now a history with or maybe you’re already welcoming new Afghan friends World Relief has this culture guide that you can find at worldrelief.thinkific.com/courses/afghan-culture-guide where you can learn all about it from Afghan friends The ones on this call are not in the course but other Afghan friends and partners with World Relief that share about the culture context of Afghanistan the present systems and religion and faith within the country Cultural values and how those compare and contrast with some of our own There’s all kinds of really interesting paradigms in this cultural guide we want to offer this for free to you for the rest of this year in honor of the three-year commemoration you can enter in cultureguide24 for 100% off Anyone you would like can take this course for free to learn about Afghan culture and its people “We are ready to welcome.” We want to invite you to form a good neighbor team anywhere in the United States Whether you are near one of our field offices or anywhere else we want to invite you to form a good neighbor team 10 people who says yes to walking alongside a newly arriving immigrant or refugee family for 6 to 12 months providing tangible care and friendship to them This website at worldrelief.org/good-neighbor-teams will show you some videos and examples of what it looks like We will coach you and walk alongside you every step of the way It used to be that you could only do this if you were near one of our office locations Now we have the capacity to coach you and walk with you virtually no matter what state you’re in Would you consider potentially this being the year that your church says “Maybe instead of investing in a missions trip or going to another country or doing something externally maybe we’re ready to receive the blessing of mutual friendship and welcome”?  The hard and beautiful work of welcome is also formative to us I think you all can see from the people that we have had the privilege of hearing from on this call today they add so much value and beauty to our communities and we look forward to walking with you wherever you are in your church on your discipleship journey towards learning and growing and towards welcome.  is that we have some special funding available for veterans who want to engage in this work military veterans understand the toll that conflict takes on people and on places we have some special grant funding for veterans who want to get involved in forming a good neighbor team and providing welcome just from a special grant that was given to World Relief Please reach out and contact us for more information about that if anyone you know might be interested.  I just want to thank you so much for your time Please know we stand with you in solidarity We wait for the day when God brings full peace and healing to the world World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response as well as community strengthening and resilience World Relief is both an equal opportunity employer and a faith-based religious organization World Relief strictly prohibits and does not tolerate unlawful discrimination against employees on the basis of person’s race or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal which does not conflict with the protections afforded World Relief as a faith-based employer © 2025 World Relief | Privacy Policy | World Relief is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization | EIN 23-6393344 Site Designed and Developed by 5by5 - A Change Agency 2025 3:11 PM ESTThis post was updated at 2:37 p.m 2025 The story of Samir Ahmadi’s journey to America could have been written by Charles Dickens But its author is the 14-year-old Afghan boy who one week after the Taliban walked into Kabul jammed with his family and tens of thousands of others on the road leading to Hamid Karzai International Airport having pulled its troops out of Afghanistan had announced that it would airlift two groups: Anyone holding a U.S and anyone who had worked for the Americans during the previous 20 years and their 7-year-old sister—simply terrified of staying behind Samir was still with his parents when they saw a girl fall into a ditch then a mass of people fall onto the same spot Only when he paused in the rush and scanned the faces surrounding him did Samir realize that his family was no longer in sight He considered going back the way he had come but someone said the Taliban was beating Afghans who came that way When he finally reached the long line outside the airport gate Samir approached an American soldier guarding it He told the soldier’s interpreter that he could not find his family Samir began talking with an Afghan family with U.S “Because Americans were taking their families I made myself look like I was part of that family and I just kind of tagged along,” Samir says He had left home with his family at 10 a.m he unwrapped the clothes he had bundled around his phone That’s when they told him they had gone home Afghan people climb atop a plane as they wait to evacuate at the Kabul airport in Kabul on Aug 2021.Wakil Kohsar—AFP/Getty ImagesThe plane he boarded carried Samir from the place that produced the iconic images of the American withdrawal—desperate young men dropping to their deaths after clinging to departing airplanes; the suicide bombing that Donald Trump invoked in the Presidential campaign service members (179 Afghans also perished) Of the 122,000 people evacuated from Kabul over 16 days that August about 1,400 were children without an adult relative either were reunited with family in the U.S. The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement took the rest—200 children—to live at children’s shelters that had government contracts to house unaccompanied minors more than half of those 200 have been reunited with family or fostered The rest have aged out of the program without family Though their physical needs were being met The trauma of their experience was aggravated by the rules of those shelters—especially the severe restrictions limiting phone contact with the families they have left behind according to the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.Samir's flight out of Kabul landed in Qatar the Persian Gulf kingdom where all evacuees were taken into U.S he was flown with other young people to Chicago He remembers watching the snow fall from the window of bus that took him to Albion and the 350-acres of Starr Commonwealth shelter Afghans make their way through a flooded street towards a nearby airport entrance to try their chance at evacuating out of the country 2021.Marcus Yam—Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesAt the Michigan shelter Samir was taken to one of the residential cottages where 13 Afghan children were already staying the staff took his belongings and gave him new clothes to wear Starr Commonwealth was founded as a home for runaway boys in 1913 It later become a residential behavioral and treatment facility for children aged 12 to 18 the federal government began leasing the campus to accommodate Central American children who were then crossing the border in large numbers Starr shifted to housing Afghan children after the fall of Kabul our campus served as an emergency intake site,” Starr said in a statement to TIME “but the Office of Refugee Resettlement ran the programming Starr only served as the landlord and had no role in or responsibility for the ORR program.” Samir says that in his first week at Starr staff prevented him from calling his family at all they allowed him two 10-minute calls and one 15-minute call a week He focused on his emptiness without his family The children’s days consisted of breakfast They were offered no schooling and allowed outside for just an hour a day Samir was anxious to be with his family again was the only one with a passport of any kind and Najib met the criteria of being 21 or younger and unmarried The process involved four months of interviews with the Department of State Najib had to propose a plan to support Samir in the U.S Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, the Taliban was threatening to kill anyone who had worked for organizations linked to the U.S Samir’s father had been employed at the Ministry of Interior Affairs On one of Samir's rare calls with his parents Samir stayed on the call for three extra minutes beyond the allotted 10 Samir waited anxiously to speak to his parents again the staff forbade him from calling because he had exceeded his allocation the last time Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit storm into Hamid Karzai International Airport while wearing American-made uniforms and brandishing American M4 and M16 rifles and riding U.S Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesTo understand the rationale for the phone restrictions the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights interviewed dozens of unaccompanied Afghan minors and shelter staff the center’s Policy and Litigation Attorney was that children who had been placed in custody because the U.S government had failed to ensure that evacuated families remained together entered a culture of control and criminalization “Punishing Trauma” was the title of Young Center report Policies for the children were made by former corrections officers or child welfare workers employed by the Office For Refugee Resettlement “They have worked within cultures of punitive approaches to discipline,” Hutchful said Harsh punishment for traumatized children took its toll Samir and other boys would run away from Starr four or five times a week When Samir felt most scared about being separated from his family he would abscond to a lake or hill where he could sit alone and think His return hours later was usually prompted by a police officer questioning him as authorities investigated abuse allegations One case involved a 16-year-old who said two workers shoved and yelled at him Another worker was accused of kicking a boy while he was praying People hoping to flee Afghanistan gathered outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul Jim Huylebroek—The New York Times/ReduxMeanwhile which had taken in 19 unaccompanied Afghan minors Sad to leave the 13 boys at Starr who were his first friends after leaving Kabul Samir felt reassured when the Samaritas staff told him that all the children there could talk to their families for 10 minutes each and every day “There were a lot of broken noses,” Samir says "Sometimes they would get mad and they would just take the phone hit it on the floor and break it.”The dynamic was understandable to Fatima Rahmati a youth advocate for unaccompanied Afghan children in New York most of whom fled Afghanistan in the 1980s who have helped the Afghan children in the U.S shelter system to feel more at home in the absence of their families One teenager had been through seven different shelters in 10 months Control his anger to the point of docility and if he doesn’t comply the clock resets on when he has the opportunity to be moved to a less restrictive setting?” she asks Air Force aircrew assist qualified evacuees boarding a U.S Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport Grand Rapids police responded nearly every other day to calls for incidents like missing persons the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services began an investigation into reports of Afghan minors being mistreated Samaritas also was cleared of any abuse allegations by the state and reopened the facility Samaritas did not respond to requests for comment Samir's third and final shelter was different At David and Margaret Youth and Family Services in La Verne He had been there six months when the State Department finally gave Najib a visa and a week's notice to leave Afghanistan The brothers waited another nine months to be reunited when Najib finally tested negative and traveled onward to the U.S Two shelter staffers took Samir to LAX at 1 a.m where he had to remain until his brother had a full-time job and had officially become Samir’s guardian Samir felt part of his emptiness disappear “I felt relief because finally there was somebody with me,” Samir said “All this time I was in the huge United States alone.” the brothers live in a one-bedroom apartment in Anaheim attends Magnolia High School; his hair is cut close on the sides and bushy on the top in the fashion known as alpaca Fear of the Taliban is only one of the reasons the first names of his parents and siblings are not in this article an Afghan immigrant who looks in on the boys explained that there are thugs in Afghanistan who have kidnapped the relatives of someone who now lives in the U.S. Four in the morning in California is 3:30 p.m “I just want to see my mom and dad,” Samir says 18 The original version of this story mischaracterized the status of Starr Commonwealth Contact us at letters@time.com has lifted bounties on three senior Taliban figures including the interior minister who also heads a powerful network blamed for bloody attacks against Afghanistan's former Western-backed government who acknowledged planning a January 2008 attack on the Serena Hotel in Kabul no longer appears on the State Department's Rewards for Justice website The FBI website on Sunday still featured a wanted poster for him Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani said the U.S government had revoked the bounties placed on Haqqani "These three individuals are two brothers and one paternal cousin," Qani told the Associated Press The Haqqani network grew into one of the deadliest arms of the Taliban after the U.S.-led 2001 invasion of Afghanistan prisoner George Glezmann on Friday and the removal of bounties showed both sides were "moving beyond the effects of the wartime phase and taking constructive steps to pave the way for progress" in bilateral relations "The recent developments in Afghanistan-U.S relations are a good example of the pragmatic and realistic engagement between the two governments," said Jalaly hailed the development as the beginning of normalization in 2025 citing the Taliban's announcement it was in control of Afghanistan's embassy in Norway Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 China has been the most prominent country to accept one of their diplomats Other countries have accepted de facto Taliban representatives which has been a key mediator between the U.S has triggered widespread condemnation and deepened their international isolation Haqqani has previously spoken out against the Taliban's decision-making process His rehabilitation on the international stage is in contrast to the status of the reclusive Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada who could face arrest by the International Criminal Court for his persecution of women Become an NPR sponsor Civil servant Josie Stewart found to have been unlawfully dismissed in 2022 after she told BBC about failures A civil servant who blew the whistle about the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and Boris Johnson’s involvement in a decision to evacuate a pet charity from Kabul has won her case for unfair dismissal against the government in a legal first An employment panel of three judges unanimously found the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) unfairly dismissed Josie Stewart in 2021 after she leaked information in the public interest Stewart lost her job after her security clearance was removed when it emerged she told the BBC about failures in the withdrawal from Kabul and leaked emails suggesting that Johnson had prioritised staff from the animal charity Nowzad for evacuation over more deserving cases argued that the right to whistleblow did not extend to giving security clearance to those with a record of leaking said if the FCDO’s argument succeeded it would “drive a coach and horses through” the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (Pida) aimed at protecting whistleblowers A landmark judgment issued on Tuesday said: “The tribunal considered that it was reasonable for the claimant [Stewart] to go to the UK’s public service broadcaster when relevant information and/or allegations had already been put into the public domain … and government ministers were publicly disputing them.” It added: “Was the claimant’s belief that she made the disclosure in the public interest a reasonable belief The prime minister and foreign secretary were denying things that the claimant believed to be true based on what she had observed in the course of her work.” The tribunal also backed Stewart’s claim for unfair dismissal It said: “The tribunal considered that no reasonable employer could base a decision to dismiss an employee in the claimant’s position on a process which failed to engage in any way with the case that she was putting forward This was sufficient to lead the tribunal to conclude that the dismissal was unfair.” But the panel did accept that it was “unavoidable” that she was suspended from her job “while her security clearance was reviewed as she was required to have such clearance” a legal firm that specialises in whistleblowing as it was the first case of its kind to establish that a civil servant was protected for disclosures to the media who had worked at the FCDO office for seven years said: “My experience of the FCDO crisis centre in August 2021 reflected the worst of our political system The outcome of this case doesn’t change any of this but it has achieved what I set out to achieve: it has established that civil servants have the right not to stay silent when systemic failures put lives at risk “We can’t have a system that says stay silent no matter what you see and forces dedicated public servants to choose between their conscience and their career.” the employment tribunal has vindicated my client’s actions and upheld her rights This is an important win not just for Ms Stewart but for civil servants Millar said in submissions to the panel that Stewart’s whistleblowing related to “the endangerment of the safety and lives of extremely vulnerable people in danger of retribution from the Taliban at any moment and a government communications strategy which concealed how badly the UK government let those people down” An FCDO spokesperson said: “We will review the findings of the tribunal and consider next steps.” Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Emails released as part of employment tribunal lift lid on questionable decisions made amid Afghanistan evacuation As the US-led coalition fled the country in August 2021 the chaos outside Kabul airport intensified and more than 180 people in the crowd were killed in an Islamic State-led suicide attack An aid worker, Zemari Ahmadi, was later erroneously struck by an American drone two miles away killing him and nine others – including seven children email inboxes in Whitehall were clogged with a separate issue: dogs and cats The extent of this fixation can be revealed for the first time after hundreds of emails were released as part of an employment tribunal case brought by Josie Stewart following her dismissal from the Foreign Office (FCDO) after she blew the whistle on a catalogue of failures about the Kabul withdrawal Josie Stewart claimed she spoke to the BBC in the public interest to corroborate another FCDO whistleblower’s account of the chaotic withdrawal Photograph: Linda Nylind/The GuardianAs part of her successful case against unfair dismissal which on Tuesday was upheld by a panel of three judges hundreds of secret and sensitive documents were disclosed during the hearing It was no surprise that government lawyers tried to hold the case behind closed doors as it lifted the lid on questionable Whitehall decision-making Government emails about the animal charity Nowzad and its media-savvy founder, Pen Farthing lost her job after her security clearance was removed when a BBC journalist mistakenly revealed she was the source of leaked emails Stewart claimed she spoke to the BBC in the public interest to corroborate another FCDO whistleblower’s account of the chaotic withdrawal after his version of events was challenged by politicians and senior civil servants. She said she leaked emails, which suggested Boris Johnson was involved in fast-tracking Nowzad for evacuation to show the government’s priorities were warped after the then prime minister dismissed the claim as “total nonsense” Emails disclosed in Stewart’s case raise fresh doubts about Johnson’s assertion They also reveal there was opposition across Whitehall to giving any special treatment to Farthing’s animals and staff An email from a senior environment official on 23 August 2021 referenced press reporting of “the prime minister’s decision to grant visas to Nowzad staff” It also noted the decision came with a “significant risk of critical comparison with the government’s approach to allowing Afghans to seek refuge in the UK” On the same day a No 10 email urged the Ministry of Defence to shut down press reports that the department was blocking Nowzad from charting a private flight from Kabul At 1.33am on 25 August the then defence secretary, Ben Wallace, tweeted that Farthing’s staff had been cleared for evacuation and that “if he arrives with his animals we will seek a slot for his plane” but that “no one has the right in this humanitarian crisis to jump the queue” said Wallace’s tweets had caused a flap in Downing Street Under the subject line “URGENT – Pen Farthing & dogs” she wrote: “Major No 10 comms concerns about Def Sec commitment overnight that we will get the Nowzad dogs out – don’t want to look like we are prioritising animals over people.” Pen Farthing He managed to leave Kabul with the animals onboard a flight and the charity’s staff later fled Afghanistan by road Photograph: Omar Sobhani/ReutersThis sparked a long email chain the then head of the Pakistan and Afghanistan department at the FCDO replied saying: “Hopefully we’re not looking to prioritise animals over people at risk from the Taliban.” An official from the MoD emailed at 10.21am saying of Farthing “If he turns up with the dogs then the dogs are not coming.” who was in charge of the FCDO’s evacuation crisis centre said Nowzad staff were not considered vulnerable enough to qualify for evacuation At 10.28am he emailed: “As SRO [senior responsible officer] for the LOTR [Leave outside the rules] scheme I consider they are not with the agreed priority cohorts But at 11.22am Hall added: “It is open to the PM to instruct that Nowzad should now be called forward At this point there is confirmation that No 10 was asked to make a decision on Nowzad by the then foreign secretary who was Raab’s deputy principal private secretary said: “Nowzad are in the cohorts approved by ministers as candidates for LOTR.” who was the government’s special representative on Afghanistan then intervened to confirm Downing Street had been asked to decide on prioritising Nowzad Casey would later tell a committee of MPs that the idea Johnson was involved in the decision was based on a faulty assumption by a senior official. He also claimed he had searched his emails and found nothing of relevance on the Nowzad issue Afghans struggle to reach the foreign forces to show their credentials to flee the country outside Kabul airport in August 2021 Photograph: Akhter Gulfam/EPABut there was a relevant email At 11.15am he messaged King to say Lovegrove was asked to “seek clear guidance for us from No10 asap on what they would like us to do Lovegrove informed colleagues that Nowzad’s staff would be given priority after all according to a 11.50am email from Thomas Drew the FCDO’s then director general of defence and security There are 68 Afghan national in the Pen Farthing/Nowzad group We shall security clear them with UKVI/Home Office At 12.09pm the FCDO crisis team was told: “The prime minister has approved the Nowzad staff to be called forward.” Later that day a sceptical Hall sought clarification on whether animals would be allowed on the flight: He wrote: “I am not SRO for animals … you must ask MOD whether they can carry animals whether they would be putting animals’ lives over people’s lives Tom Drew may then need to liaise with Stephen Lovegrove to establish the scope of the PM’s decision It was not until 28 August that Farthing confirmed to the FCDO officials that a flight with animals had safely left Kabul but the staff who had been cleared for evacuation did not make the flight They arrived later in the UK after fleeing Afghanistan by road The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee We protect displaced people and support them as they build a new future The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas brings renewed hope to Gaza and we are ready to scale up our work to meet the enormous needs We started our relief efforts after World War Two we work in both new and protracted crises across 40 countries where we help save lives and rebuild futures NRC works to protect the rights of displaced people during crisis NORCAP works to better protect and empower people affected by crises and climate change We collaborate with partners on finding solutions to meet the needs of people at risk Get the latest news from our work in the field Around 1,400 IDPs have had to return to their places of origin where they often find nothing left after several years of absence Over 4,200 others have joined other IDPs in informal settlements that are also at risk of demolition because the disruption to their livelihoods means they must cope with losing their homes They are also exposed to health issues such as stress caused by instability and poor living conditions Repeated displacement – removing people from their social support networks disrupting their education and causing them loss of identity and culture – negatively affects IDPs’ long-term coping abilities “I had to leave Uruzgan because of the civil war during the previous government,” he recalls where they lived in the Bagrami IDP settlement for nearly a decade “I did not have bad living conditions while living in Bagrami settlement I had a small shop inside the settlement selling different items to other IDP families The shop was able to cover our daily expenses,” Hamdullah explains the Taliban takeover forced him and his family to relocate to Kandahar prompting their return to Kabul and the Bagrami settlement including the one where Hamdullah and his family were living pushing them to another informal settlement “The authorities came and told us to leave the settlement and go back to your place of origin,” he says which he did not have to pay in the previous settlement “I have to pay 2,000 AFN [around $29] per month to the owner of this house … It is very hard for me now to pay the rent cost family expenses and other costs with almost no income,” he shares “[My children] soaks the dried breadcrumbs in the water to make it a bit softer before they eat it I can barely afford two meals a day to feed my family,” he says The financial strain has left Hamdullah in debt He says he had to borrow money from others to pay for his and his wife’s medical treatment “I currently owe 28,000 AFN [around $395] to different people,” he says Hamdullah’s message to the world is a plea for aid “Please support us; those who are evicted from their settlements have nowhere to go The world should support these people and help them pay back their debt,” he urges The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains dire. People are grappling with severe challenges, including widespread poverty, food insecurity and displacement. Almost half of the population lives below the poverty line, and millions face acute malnutrition. Nadia, a 25-year-old mother of four originally from Kandahar, has faced unimaginable hardships.1 “I have six daughters Two of them died due to heart disease,” she shares with sorrow Nadia and her family lived in the settlement in Kabul where she says their financial situation was almost stable the demolition of the settlement plunged them into debt Moving to acost them 90,000 AFN (around $1,270) “This place is not ideal for my children and I am worried about their education and them living here,” she says “Shelter is the utmost need of my family and children.” Nadia’s life has been challenging from a young age She reveals that she got married when she was 12 and delivered her firstborn a year later “[My husband] is going to marry another 13-year-old child to have a son as he calls me ‘defective’ for giving him daughters She explains that her children go hungry and thirsty because her family’s earnings are spent on paying their debts Tragedy struck when one of Nadia’s daughters died and they couldn’t afford to pay for her funeral When IDPs are evicted from their settlements loss of social connections and family separation are common repercussions that exacerbate their already precarious situation originally from Zhari district in Kandahar province He explains that his family had to leave Zhari district due to security concerns his family lived in the informal IDP settlement in Kabul “It has been over a month since we moved [to Helmandian informal IDP settlement] due to eviction by the authorities,” Khan Mohammad shares They did not have to pay rent in their previous settlement The sense of community in their previous settlement was a source of support Khan Mohammad recalls that people in the settlement knew each other well and were able to support each other to some extent “I buy secondhand items and sell them back by adding a small profit on top of them I make around 100 AFN [around $1.40] per day which is not sufficient for a six-member family’s expenses,” he says The economic situation for evicted families is dire food and land,” Khan Mohammad emphasises Almost 60 other evicted households from thesettlement have joined Khan Mohammad’s family in the Helmandian settlement “No one has received any assistance following the eviction,” he notes The eviction has forced families to make difficult choices Khan Mohammad says that some families had to sell their belongings to rent a truck so that they could move themselves and their remaining possessions to either their place of origin or to other settlements He says: “I know families who did not have food to eat for almost two days following the eviction.” Khan Mohammad had to make a painful sacrifice himself “I had to sell the wood from our roof to pay the rent for the new home,” he shares His message to the world is: “Please provide us with job opportunities Support refugees and displaced people in 40 countries around the world.  +47 23 10 98 00nrc@nrc.no +47 90 56 23 29media@nrc.no fundraising@nrc.no Over 90 per cent of our global revenue goes directly to fulfil our purpose Practical insights from and foracademics and university staff Everything you need for each stepof your study abroad journey It was just a normal day when I heard people screaming and shouts of “Towards the airport I remembered thinking something terrible was about to happen there was still a chance of achieving my dream – a life and an education in a free country But only if I was on one of the last US planes leaving Kabul airport My older brother Hashmat and I headed to the airport I saw more than a thousand people outside the gates But I also saw men with long beards holding rifles – I suddenly remembered the word “Taliban” But you could not look straight into the eyes of the Taliban I saw a military booth standing right outside the big wall surrounding the airport The only way to get inside was climbing on to the booth and then on to a 6m-high wall standing next to an elderly man with a grey beard but the elderly man broke his leg as he hit the ground My brother and I rushed to get inside the main airport I saw a Taliban fighter – about 20 years old He fired three or four bullets in the air when he saw us He struck my brother on the back with his rifle and I remembered those lovely memories I had had with my friends and classmates All those memories just came and went by in those few seconds As we got closer and closer to the US planes Some of the aircraft were the old commercial planes of Afghanistan The plane made three or four turns as it readied to fly Yet I saw that people were holding the small metal part outside the plane next to the fuel tank I wondered if they were really going to hang on there or jump off once the plane was ready for take-off When the plane had made its last circle around the runway I saw the terrified faces of people holding on for their lives but as it made its way upwards into the sky small pieces of what looked like paper were falling from the back of the aircraft They were human beings – those who had been hanging on to the small metal part attached to the plane I saw three or four bodies with no hands and no legs; they had been cut into pieces I stayed in the airport for a couple more hours with Hashmat I saw more Taliban standing at the door and showing the exit to people who gazed silently at the floor I still remember their faces before the plane took off I will not forget the little smile each had prior to a death that nobody imagined possible I could see families with their handbags and luggage But it was not a holiday; it was a race for their lives I saw military caravans and armoured vehicles but inside them were new faces – people with turbans around their heads I still remember that taxi ride with my brother: my beautiful Kabul was looking so very uncomfortable I saw that my clothes were ripped and my whole back was scratched and all the bones in my body felt as though they were crashing into each other had made it to the UK through its Chevening scholarship route just before the collapse happened my sister and I were also included in the evacuation process nine days later especially the British government and the people thanks to the support of teachers and a university committed to helping refugees fulfil their potential I will start an undergraduate course this autumn I was no one – a 16-year-old schoolboy who hoped to help the people of his country and to serve his community I cannot forget what I saw at Kabul airport but those memories will drive me to push harder for my dreams Naweed Zafary will start an engineering degree at the University of Sussex next month Already registered or a current subscriber Ban on women attending university further hampering crisis-plagued Afghanistan’s development In the week his sister should have graduated in Kabul as a doctor PhD student Naimat Zafary describes the reality for Afghan women denied their degrees Scholars express ‘deep concern’ over recent decrees banning women from public places and reinstating sharia Neither party has offered realistic estimates of fee increase windfalls or implications of loan scheme proposals Proposed 60-hour limit another ‘cynical ploy’ to use students to balance the books US campuses were engulfed by vigorous protests against Israel’s military action in Gaza as the war rages on and the Trump administration cracks down on universities’ freedoms and funding closing visa ‘loopholes’ and tying student debt to mortgages among the ideas proposed ahead of poll Subscribe today to receive unlimited news and analyses commentary from the sharpest minds in international academia our influential university rankings analysis and the latest insights from our World Summit series Your ticket includes access to the USS Yorktown Enjoy unlimited free admission for you and a guest Learn More Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is proud to participate in Museums For All.  Congressional Medal of Honor Museum The Medal of Honor Museum features interactive exhibits that tell the stories of the brave Americans who have served and protected the U.S Thousands desperate to escape, the horrific images of the United States’ departure from both Saigon and Kabul are forever etched in the memories of Americans who watch the events unfold on their television screens. A striking photo of a CH-46E Sea Knight flying over the roof of the U.S Embassy in Kabul elicited immediate visual and emotional parallels with the Fall of Saigon The Saigon evacuation was carried out through Operation Frequent Wind a massive airlift operation ferried American and South Vietnamese personnel to ships offshore rescuing individuals from rooftops and various locations throughout Saigon as the North Vietnamese Army closed in.  The evacuation in Kabul involved large-scale aerial operations from the Hamid Karzai International Airport Thousands of people were evacuated through commercial and military flights and allied forces coordinating efforts to manage air traffic and security Patriots Point will host a symposium on the US military’s departure from Saigon Two distinguished commanders from the Charleston area will share their personal experiences in each conflict and provide contextual insight into each situation’s complexities and the policy failures contributing to their results This is a free event and does not require museum admission Tickets must be reserved in advance through Eventbrite All attendees ages 6+ will be required to have a ticket Cost: Free Date: October 15, 2024 Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm Location: Smokey Stover Theater, USS Yorktown Tickets: Required; secure through Eventbrite Tickets Museum Open Daily 10 am - 5 pmTicket Window Closes at 4 PM Ship Store Open Daily 9 am - 5 pm CONTACT US (843) 884-2727 info@patriotspoint.org LostandFound@patriotspoint.org NEW: The Effects of the US Foreign Aid Freeze on Freedom House One human rights defender told Freedom House about the threats she has faced from both the Taliban and authorities in neighboring Pakistan where she and her family are trapped by slow third-country relocation processes Afghan refugees wait for evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport during Operation Allies Refuge in Kabul August 15 marks the third anniversary of the fall of Kabul in 2021 when Taliban forces captured Afghanistan’s capital and completed their armed takeover of the country The event has had a dramatic effect on the many Afghan activists who worked to improve human rights conditions during the two decades after the previous Taliban regime was ousted a human rights defender who was forced to flee to Pakistan when the Taliban returned to Kabul Her full name is being withheld to ensure her safety Freedom House: Please describe your work in Afghanistan and why you were forced to leave K.: I worked for more than 20 years in Afghanistan with various international organizations Our programs sought to protect women and girls and advocate on behalf of and provide humanitarian support to people at risk and I am in Pakistan now fleeing Taliban persecution I worked with an international organization to evacuate human rights defenders While a colleague and I were meeting potential evacuees I had no idea about my colleague’s whereabouts I was interrogated several times by the Taliban and of spreading immorality and immodesty among women The Taliban officer interrogating me took my phone I was beaten with a weapon and was constantly screamed at for being an infidel I was finally released after I pleaded for help; my daughter was two years old at that time and I kept repeating to Taliban: “She needs me my arrest was perceived as a stigma on my family I carried serious mental health issues that have affected my ability to take care of myself and my kids I continue to seek ways to protect my family and prevent any future incident How did you make the journey from Afghanistan to Pakistan I was asked to sign a form stating that under no circumstances would I work with any national or international organization or agencies in the future I was told that if I contacted any foreigner my family and I would face serious consequences my family members tried all possible means to reach out to me everyone correctly assumed that I had been severely tortured and they could not reach out for support due to fear of the Taliban and I and my family were constantly in a state of fear I left Kabul and was in hiding in another part of Afghanistan for almost a year until my passport was extended and I got the visa to enter Pakistan and the circumstances of your life in Pakistan I was relieved that I was no longer under surveillance by the Taliban My children and I had a valid Pakistani visa We spent the first few months chasing my US contacts and the European Union offices I had served for many years to ask for help I was deeply disappointed to learn that these organizations had no plan to support their former staff I applied for resettlement through the governments of the US and EU countries and I started exploring education and employment opportunities I had only secured one initial emergency grant for my family as I could not afford to meet their expenses I started teaching in a private institution for 10 hours a day and was paid only 30 dollars a month and I struggled to pay for required visa extensions and police registration for the family The Pakistani government began engaging in mass expulsions of Afghan refugees in late 2023 How has this campaign affected you and your family When the deportations ramped up in November 2023 I had submitted all our passports for visa renewal and was awaiting a decision my home was searched by the Pakistani authorities several times and we were harassed and told to leave the country as the authorities involved were carrying weapons and intimidating families I was fined $3,000 because the visa extension process was delayed by a company we used that failed to submit the documents on time My extended family members helped me to pay the police fine I also paid several visits to the authorities to request that the fine be waived the support from the international organizations was nonexistent; we tried to reach out to the UNHCR [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] and SHARP [Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid] offices multiple times We also were initially glad to receive a letter from the US State Department to show to the authorities; the letter was supposed to prevent the deportation of people in the US immigration pipeline was discarded by the police when they searched my home Many people in the refugee community left Pakistan and headed back to Afghanistan at that time for fear of being arrested the situation has significantly deteriorated and worsened since I left Afghanistan The Taliban continue to impose severe restrictions on women and girls and even prohibit them from going to hair salons and gyms The Taliban have carried out the arbitrary arrest and physical and sexual abuse of young women protesters who dared to raise their voices against harsh restrictions I know women who suffer from trauma after being released from Taliban prisons and have attempted suicide Family members of women human rights defenders were also forced to leave their homes and many are either in hiding inside the country or have fled to neighboring countries seeking protection What are your messages for the United Nations and other international organizations I strongly believe that no one wants or is forced to leave everything behind and flee from stable countries where the authorities respect people’s rights This is the second time in my life I have had to become a refugee both times due to the Taliban’s restrictive rules on women and girls and I want them to receive an education and be able to work I want the same for my son and that he grows up respecting women It has been three years since girls were prohibited from going to school beyond sixth grade and women were sidelined from all spheres of life These policies further push boys and men to normalize domestic violence as women and girls are now more vulnerable and dependent on their male family members The international community must ensure that the Taliban are held accountable for mass violations of human rights in Afghanistan the United Nations should pressure the Taliban to adhere to human rights principles and provide opportunities for all to live without fear of arbitrary arrests and persecution in Afghanistan International organizations like UNHCR must pay serious attention to the situation of people at risk in neighboring countries Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and refugee (P1 and P2) cases in the pipeline to resettle in the United States should be moved more quickly EU countries should speed up work on the cases of people promised relocation from Pakistan to destination countries It has been three years since the Taliban seized Kabul and many human rights defenders like me are still trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty and violence that we suffer inside Afghanistan and in neighboring countries Freedom in the World has been widely used by policymakers Donate today to help us ensure the future of this vital resource.  AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale KABUL - Since the start of the school year in March Afghan boys have been required to wear new uniforms of turbans and long tunics following an order to adopt outfits reflecting Taliban rule The Taliban government's education ministry cites strengthening discipline masking social inequalities and promoting what the authorities see as true Islamic attire as reasons for the dress code change -- a move that has sparked division "Islam has preserved and strengthened the standards of modesty and dignity by paying attention to clothing Sharia clothing defines the identity of a Muslim male and female," the ministry said in its directive "Sharia clothing is a means to preserve the dignity of the individual and protect the society against moral degradation." Before the Taliban authorities swept back to power in 2021 the shalwar kameez and turban -- traditional wear in the region -- were uncommon in academic or professional settings.  the streets of Kabul and other areas have become more uniform with many men opting for the monochrome loose trousers and long tunic the shalwar kameez with a turban or hat are now mandatory for all students Girls are already from a young age required to wear uniforms often a long black dress over matching trousers with a white headscarf but can no longer study past primary school in non-religious institutions Male students must wear a light blue shalwar kameez along with a cap up to the age of around 15 afterwards donning white and wearing a turban The rule -- ordered by the Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada -- took time to be enforced and is still implemented unevenly across the country student Nassir Ahmad said few pupils wore the new uniform at the start of the school year "Our teachers told us not to come without it we can't enter the classroom," the 13-year-old told AFP "I saw several of my friends turned away because they didn't have a turban on," said 17-year-old Qassim He said morality police from the department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice came to the schools to ensure the rules are being followed In the Taliban heartland of southern Kandahar several students told AFP they were pleased with their new clothing said he was "very happy" to wear the "Prophet's clothing" "It distinguishes students from other people in the street," said the 17-year-old some students wear the turban while at school only to stuff it into their bags as soon as they leave.  Among teachers and school principals -- also told to swap their suits and ties or casual clothes for shalwar kameez and a black turban -- some disapproved of the measure A doctor no longer looks like a doctor and a cook no longer looks like a cook," said the principal of a Kabul school "The uniform does create discipline," the principal conceded having swapped out his suit and tie nearly four years ago to avoid trouble paying the average 1,000 Afghanis ($14) per uniform is a burden in a country where 85 percent of the population lives on less than a dollar a day how are they supposed to manage?" he asked Students now wear their new uniforms in often dilapidated schools with meager resources lessons are sometimes held outdoors under the shade of a tree.  The Kabul principal said at first he didn't sanction students out of uniform but now education ministry officials show up at his school two to three times a week to check whether students are complying "People in Afghanistan have no choice," he said the Taliban declared an ‘interim government’ in Afghanistan following the fall of the Afghan National Security Forces and the government a major humanitarian crisis unfolded in the region millions of people in Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian support with nearly half the population living in poverty following the country’s economic crash there is no constitution or rule of law under the Taliban regime Women’s rights have also been stripped bare with millions of girls and women unable to obtain an education nor permitted to work the Taliban has systematically removed women from public life in Afghanistan Erfanullah Abidi arrived in Australia in September 2021 and remembers the harsh conditions of life under Taliban rule “I experienced their rule as a young child and observed how it devastated our lives The Taliban’s recent return has been even worse with conditions deteriorating beyond what I endured before Women and girls are now completely stripped of their rights to education and freedom facing severe restrictions and oppressive measures life offered more freedom; women had opportunities to study The contrast between the past and present is stark and heartbreaking.”  As the recent joint IOM, UNAMA and UN Women report states: “The resulting impact on the mental and physical health of women in Afghanistan and on the fabric of Afghan society at large 1.6 million Afghans have fled to neighbouring countries since the fall of Kabul in 2021 with 5.8 million Afghans now residing in surrounding territories the Australian Government allocated 26,500 visa places specifically for Afghan refugees as a direct response to the evolving crisis in Afghanistan This was met with a commitment of $27.1 million for a Settlement Support Package to meet the needs of the Afghan evacuee cohort over a two-year period the Australian Government has received 220,787 requests for humanitarian visas with 16,008 applicants being granted visas since the fall of Kabul where there is an on-going threat from local authorities to send them back to Afghanistan The Refugee Council of Australia has previously called on the Australian Government to use diplomatic pressure to urge the Pakistani Government to stop the forced return of Afghan refugees The Albanese Government quickly responded and has made numerous and regular representations to the most senior officials in Pakistan urging them to act with restraint and moderation towards Afghan refugees We urge continued bipartisan support for the people of Afghanistan by upholding the Australian Government’s Global Refugee Forum pledge of $20 million in humanitarian assistance to support the needs of displaced Afghans and their host communities This includes support for host countries to respond to priority humanitarian and protection needs and to build resilient communities through the Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Afghanistan Situation For interviews with the Refugee Council of Australia please contact media@refugeecouncil.org.au or 0433447223. What are the policies and positions of the political parties running for Parliament? This briefing provides an overview of the public positions on refugee issues of the three parties with the largest representation in... The global refugee population reached an all-time high in 2024, yet less than 6% of refugees receive resettlement. With the US resettlement program suspended under President Trump, Australia has an opportunity to lead... As the world marks the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has urged the Australian Government to apply lessons learned from the national response to this war to... Suite 4A6, 410 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills 2010 NSW Australia Phone: +61 (02) 9211 9333 Fax: +61 (02) 9211 9288 All election related material is authorised by P. Power, Refugee Council of Australia, Sydney. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we work on - the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and the Wurrundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay respects to elders past and present, and acknowledge sovereignty was never ceded. We also acknowledge the unique role Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people have in welcoming refugees and people seeking asylum to this land. [dummy text] We need you to sign up to … The election scorecard should have downloaded (even if you do not sign up). Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; editing by Mark Heinrich and Ros Russell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Russia says it will help the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan fight against the Afghan branch of Islamic State Moscow’s special representative for the country Zamir Kabulov was quoted as saying this on Friday a former Russian ambassador to Afghanistan referred to Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) as the “common enemy” of Moscow and Kabul “We see and appreciate the efforts that the Taliban are making in the fight against the Afghan wing of ISIS “We will provide our best assistance to the authorities of (Afghanistan) through specialised structures,” Kabulov said DAILY POST reports that no country currently recognises the Taliban government that seized power in August 2021 as US-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war Russia last month formally removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations Kabulov’s comments underscore the dramatic rapprochement in recent years between Moscow and Kabul which President Vladimir Putin said last year was now Russia’s “ally” in combating terrorism Russia is said to have been left reeling from multiple Islamic State (ISIS)-linked attacks including the shooting of 145 people at a concert hall outside Moscow in March 2024 which was claimed by ISIS US officials have said that they had intelligence indicating ISIS-K was responsible The Taliban stated that it working to wipe out the group’s presence in Afghanistan Kabulov said Moscow and Kabul were building up ties in multiple spheres and told RIA news agency that Russia had offered to accredit an Afghan ambassador in Moscow and was waiting for Kabul’s response Moscow’s suspension of the ban on the Taliban “finally removes all obstacles to full cooperation between our countries in various fields” leveraging Afghanistan’s strategic position for future energy and infrastructure projects joint economic projects would be discussed at a Russia-Afghan business forum later this month in the Russian city of Kazan victimised – Nigerian app-based drivers lament in petition to National Assembly Russia: I’m always thinking about who’ll take over when I step down — Putin China’s President Xi to visit Russia May 7-10 Several residential buildings on fire in Russia’s drone attack Ukraine War: Russia unleashes several drone attacks on Ukraine’s Kyiv War: Ukraine claims history as it downs Russian fighter jet May 10 uncertain for Ukraine – Russia on Zelenskyy’s warning to visiting leaders Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times India recently held talks with the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan marking a significant change in diplomatic relations The discussions took place against the backdrop of rising tensions between India and Pakistan following a terror attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary in India's Ministry of External Affairs, met with Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul as well as issues like political relations and transit routes between the two countries Tensions have risen between New Delhi and Islamabad after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 which resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and one local resident India has accused Pakistan of being responsible for the attack and has taken several diplomatic actions such as suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and cancelling visas Pakistan has also implemented similar measures including the potential suspension of the Simla Agreement expressed Afghanistan’s interest in expanding its diplomatic and economic relations with India He highlighted Afghanistan’s investment-friendly environment and encouraged Indian businesses to explore the opportunities there Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not directly mention the Pahalgam attack but acknowledged that “recent regional developments” were part of the conversation Although the Taliban government has not been internationally recognised India has kept a diplomatic presence in Kabul since the Taliban took power in August 2021 expressed hope about strengthening relations in various sectors and confirmed India's commitment to development cooperation He also highlighted India's interest in resuming stalled infrastructure projects from the past India's recent approach represents a shift in its stance toward Afghanistan India had to pause its diplomatic and development activities which included significant investments in Afghanistan’s democracy and the construction of the Afghan Parliament building The abrupt halt led to increased influence from regional rivals there were signs that India's foreign policy towards Afghanistan may be adjusting Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Taliban representative Muttaqi in Dubai marking the highest-level meeting between the two since 2021 This would allow goods to bypass Pakistan’s ports in Karachi and Gwadar.  India's limited engagement with Taliban without officially recognising the government can keep "communication lines open and help prevent Afghanistan from becoming a sanctuary for anti-India terror groups" " the goal is not to embrace the Taliban but to ensure Afghanistan does not turn into a geopolitical vacuum exploited by hostile forces" MyIndMakers is a New Age Media Company established in 2015 to enable the exchange of Global Ideas and Solutions Join our mailing list to stay up to date and get notices about our new releases © 2025 MyIndMakers - All Rights Reserved The Indian diplomat overseeing relations with Afghanistan has met the Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul and discussed political relations and regional developments amid India-Pakistan tensions over the Pahalgam terror attack India diplomat M Anand Prakash (left) with the Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul who recently took over as joint secretary of the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division of the external affairs ministry met Muttaqi in the Afghan capital on Sunday deputy spokesperson of the Taliban’s foreign ministry said on social media that the two sides discussed “recent regional political developments” but didn’t give details Other matters that figured in the meeting were bilateral political relations Muttaqi emphasised the development of diplomatic and economic relations and invited Indian investors to take advantage of good investment opportunities in Afghanistan Muttaqi said the movement of people between Afghanistan and India should be facilitated and the issuance of visas to Afghan patients students and businessmen should be “restored to normal” Prakash was quoted by Ahmad as saying that relations with Afghanistan are important to India and he hoped to expand ties in various fields Prakash was also quoted as saying that that India will continue its cooperation with Afghanistan and wants to invest in some infrastructure projects Work has also resumed on some projects that had been stalled for some time Ahmad said both sides emphasised the development of relations facilitation of visas and mutual cooperation There was no word from the Indian side on the meeting The Taliban foreign ministry has condemned the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 people and said such incidents affect regional security “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan categorically condemns the recent attack on tourists in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir and expresses our condolences to the bereaved families,” the ministry said in a statement on April 23 “Such incidents undermine efforts to ensure regional security and stability,” the statement said One of the punitive measures taken by New Delhi against Islamabad after the attack – the closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari – has affected trade between India and Afghanistan via Pakistan This is one Afghanistan’s shortest and cheapest transit routes for trade with India and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment has said annual trade via this route is worth $500 million Afghan traders and economic institutions have warned about potential damage from the continued closure of this route a board member of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment the ports are closed and the problems are considerable It is now the season for dried fruits and in two months our trade with India through this route has been completely halted.” Most of Afghanistan’s dried fruits are exported to India via the Attari route The Afghan Dried Fruit Exporters Union said alternative export routes come with significant difficulties Prakash also met former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and discussed the regional situation and the strengthening of ties between India and Afghanistan Karzai said in a social media post that he called for providing scholarships to Afghan youth and emphasised the facilitation of trade transactions bombed-out buildings stood as stark reminders of a life disrupted survival was not the only battle; his greatest fight was for an education there were no classrooms—just open spaces where children sat on the dirt they faced a shortage of teachers and materials That belief came from the United Nations and international organizations instilling the belief that these children's futures mattered the boy completed high school and graduated from Kabul Medical University in Afghanistan found himself on the other side of the story-now working with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Technical Officer in the Uganda Country Office Yosuf visited a school where children sat on the ground no proper classrooms—only the children's unwavering determination to learn he saw his younger self: a boy with dreams far bigger than his circumstances This experience highlights a profound truth; experience shapes not only who we are but also how we serve others He was no longer just a doctor or a health professional; he was someone who had once sat in the same dust and known the impact of compassion from strangers but they mean nothing if the human beings behind them are forgotten He knew firsthand what it was like to be on the receiving end of international aid—not as a statistic but as a child whose life was transformed because someone cared enough to act This is why organizations like WHO and the UN must continue their work They are not just responding to crises; they are shaping futures and in countless other places where potential waits to be nurtured Their futures depend on whether the world chooses to invest in them or turn away The global community cannot afford to turn away and other organizations fighting to give children a chance is essential Every act of support—no matter how small—does not just change lives and changemakers who will one day stand where Yousef stands today the children invested in today will be the ones who shape the world tomorrow Communications AssociateWHO Uganda Country OfficeEmail: afwcougcom [at] who.int (afwcougcom[at]who[dot]int)Phone: +256740487734 Emergencies Communications OfficerWHO Africa Regional Officenwonyec [at] who.int (nwonyec[at]who[dot]int)+2348034645524 You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience its intelligence agency--the ISI--and radical religious leaders "Issues related to Pakistan were not discussed," says ADB on bilateral meeting with FM Sitharaman "Buddhist connections between India-Vietnam represent very strong element of partnership": Indian envoy Sandeep Arya Jaishankar appreciates Japan's support for India over Pahalgam terrorist attack Israel's Druze leader urges international protection for Syrian minorities 21% water shortage expected for Kharif season in Pakistan after India puts Indus Treaty in abeyance "Military solution is no solution": UN Secy General asks India Pakistan to exercise "maximum restraint" Finance Minister Sitharaman meets ADB President Italian counterpart; highlights India's DPI success copyrights © aninews.in | All rights Reserved