In addition to the Taliban's failure to act as Afghanistan's administrator, clashes on the Iran-Pakistan border have exacerbated the plight of refugees, forcing regional actors to step in.
 |
| Photo (https://bit.ly/3nuXq68) |
Afghans are the world's third largest refugee population, after Syrians and Venezuelans. There are approximately 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees worldwide, of which 2.2 million live in Iran and Pakistan alone. Afghanistan is back to the darkest period in its history.
The Taliban have failed to rebuild Afghanistan as administrators, making it difficult to govern. The inability to form a comprehensive government to provide girls and women with the right to education and work, and its efforts to restrict people's mobility, has created a new refugee crisis in Afghanistan. This has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis due to persistent droughts, especially in neighboring countries, where the number of people seeking to flee is increasing.
The dispute was sparked by a dispute over road construction by the Taliban near the border, which led to a temporary closure of the crossing and the seizure of Iranian military vehicles.
Clashes with Iranian and Pakistani officials over the Taliban's recent border have intensified the struggle for Afghan asylum seekers. Both neighboring countries fear the influx of refugees and terrorist exports. The new Afghan administrators are unable to address their concerns, which creates further instability.
Tensions have risen on the border with Iran.
Tehran has shown a willingness to accept the reality of Taliban control and a pragmatic approach to Afghanistan's new administrators. However, recent clashes on the border renewed hostility between Iran and the Taliban.
The dispute was sparked by a dispute over road construction by the Taliban near the border, which led to a temporary closure of the crossing and the seizure of Iranian military vehicles. This is the second time the two sides have clashed on the border since the Taliban took control of Kabul last August.
Iran's 900-kilometer border with Afghanistan has always raised concerns about the influx of refugees, smuggling and drug trafficking. The Iranian government estimates that approximately 500,000 Afghans will have arrived in Iran by 2021. 5,000 people come every day after the takeover, compared to an average of 1,400-2,500 before. Tehran is running out of resources to support Afghan refugees because they are plagued by United States-led sanctions.
The Iranian diplomatic missions in Kabul and Herat suspended all services due to stone pelting on the mission by groups of Afghan protesters.
The abuse and exploitation of Afghan refugees in Iran is a major concern. Last month, the Iranian diplomatic missions in Kabul and Herat suspended all services after a group of Afghan protesters hurled stones at the mission. Protests erupted over videos of young refugees being harassed and insulted by Iranians. Relations between the Taliban and Iran are sensitive, and the mere involvement of the two has had limited results. Especially in light of the Taliban's failure to stop attacks by the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISK-P) against the minority Shia community in recent months.
Iran has long exploited the insecure Afghan population. Those who manage to smuggle Afghans into Iran face discrimination and limited job opportunities. In addition, Iran recruits Afghan asylum seekers to go to Syria, martyring Afghan refugees. The desperate need for money or a residence permit किंवा or both, many eligible Afghan men are forced to sign up for war in Syria for which they are paid US 500 with a basic schooling or university education and the promise of a good living for their families. Deployed primarily for special operations outside of Iran, the Fatimid division is made up of Afghan soldiers affiliated with the Iranian Kuds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The situation is much different for undocumented Afghans than for registered refugees. With extreme restrictions on subsistence, education and health care, they are at risk of continued abuse and deportation by Iranian authorities. Since January, 2,500 to 3,000 Afghans have been deported across the border from Iran every day. The number is expected to rise in the coming weeks as tensions rise on the Iran-Afghanistan border. The repatriation of the bodies of Afghans, including kidneys and other organs missing from Iran, has been widely abused.
With extreme restrictions on subsistence, education and health care, they are at risk of continued abuse and deportation by Iranian authorities.
The Iranian government has been carrying a heavy burden of dealing with refugees in Afghanistan for 40 years, without much more international humanitarian help than Pakistan. Nevertheless, scant international cooperation and a fragile economy are no excuses for Iran to openly exploit the Afghan people.
Relations with Pakistan were strained
Pakistan has more than 1.4 million registered refugees from Afghanistan. Between August 27 and September 29, 2021, an estimated 5,500 Afghans arrived, 60 percent of whom live in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Afghans are now facing increasing pressure as Pakistan tightens border restrictions and increases deportation. Police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recently arrested several Afghan artists for deportation. Protests erupted in Peshawar, claiming their lives were in danger in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
In times of economic uncertainty, Afghan refugees are often used by the Pakistani government as scapegoats. In addition to the financial burden of hosting refugees, Islamabad is crazy about its national security. Pakistan has tried to complete the fencing work on the border, which has never been accepted by previous Afghan governments. Earlier this year, there were clashes between Pakistani and Taliban security forces over the fencing of the Pakistani border. Such border clashes have significantly restricted the movement of people across the border.
Unexpected differences between Islamabad and the Taliban have led to increased regional pressure over Pakistani airstrikes in April on the border provinces of Khost and Kunar. Unhappy with the Taliban's lack of 'tough action' against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamabad's military action killed 47 civilians on Afghan soil. In Pakistan, the TTP has carried out 82 attacks and killed 133 people since the fall of the US-backed administration. The Taliban is clearly linked to anti-Pakistan groups like the TTP and is trying to move away from Pakistan's sphere of influence to gain an advantage over Islamabad.
Taliban-led Afghanistan is facing its worst humanitarian crisis since next month, with 97 percent of the population on the brink of universal poverty.
Recent tensions in relations indicate a decline in Pakistan's historical strategic depth and advantage over Afghanistan. Anas Haqqani, the Taliban's top leader, recently said that "Afghanistan's doors are open to India." This is especially encouraging as India is an active regional power.
Conclusion
While Pakistan faces major economic challenges and political turmoil, Iran's economy is crippled by Western sanctions. Taliban-led Afghanistan is facing its worst humanitarian crisis since next month, with 97 percent of the population on the brink of universal poverty. Ordinary civilians in Afghanistan are not responsible for this horrific situation and the Taliban are unable to provide what they need. On 15 August 2021, confused images of a frightened crowd at Kabul airport showed distrust of the Taliban.
The US and its allies have a deep responsibility to help the Afghans, however, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the plight of the Afghans was forgotten. Thus, it is time for regional actors like Central Asian states and India to address the plight of Afghan refugees by creating a sustainable and coordinated mechanism that can ensure the rehabilitation of vulnerable people.
Post a Comment