OUR HUMBLE MESSAGE ON GLOBAL REFUGEE DAY: REFLECTIONS ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO AFGHAN REFUGEES
While never a celebratory day, some years have definitely been brighter than others for those unfortunate souls who find themselves wearing the refugee moniker. The nearly two years since the great ‘Coalition Skedaddle’ have been a living hell for Afghan refugees. Stranded in temporary respite countries where dodging bribe-seeking local officials and trying to stay out of domestic disputes has frayed nerves, eroded hope, and drained bank accounts – the future remains uncertain. Even among those who have reached their destination countries, there are tens of thousands that have been left in limbo due to internal political divisions, legal vagueries, and forces beyond their control. Most are unable to compete for permanent jobs or begin the arduous process of integrating into societies that long ago moved on from the Afghanistan problem. The policies issued by organizations with mandates to deal with the problem are primarily focused on pushing Afghans back into Afghanistan with ‘ return stipends’ and ‘relocation assistance’. Transnational criminal organizations, immigration offices, border security personnel, and even some aid agencies have turned their plight into a profitable business. The misery business. Life is not easy for most Afghans who stayed in the country either. Women in particular have been robbed of their futures. However, the Afghans who left stepped out on a plank with the hopes that someone would be there to catch them should they fall. They are caught in no-mans land.
We have to do better. While the world’s so-called elites play the blame game, we have to choose to do better.
We fervently hope that the next Global Refugee Day has many more successes than abject failures. We hope that the politicians will stop using the refugees as pawns in their childish games and secure their futures. We hope that justice is meted out to those inhuman beings who have chosen to profit off of those who are at their most vulnerable. We hope nations who called these Afghan refugees allies for nearly two decades look the word up in the dictionary and act accordingly. We hope that the world’s religions will unite and bring some of their resources to bear in this struggle. We hope.
While we know it is unrealistic at this point in history, it will be a beautiful day when the world can retire “Global Refugee Day” for good.
TAD STAFF
Thus, on this World Refugee Day, let us take time to recognize and draw inspiration from these ordinary people who have shown such extraordinary courage — the world’s millions of refugees and displaced.
Antonio Guterres
LAST 24 HOURS
PAKISTAN TACKLING THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROBLEM AFTER GREEK BOAT TRAGEDY – Pakistani investigators have widened the scope of the investigation surrounding the human trafficking ring responsible for sending several Pakistani refugees to their deaths when a tragic accident occurred off the Greek coast last week. The investigation has moved beyond Lahore to other cities where cells are suspected to be operating. By most accounts, the transnational criminal organization responsible for the Greek tragedy operated a transport network that used Libya as an embarkation point to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. However, there are indications that as many as ten organized criminal groups are operating a series of transportation networks that use air, rail, ground, and maritime pipelines to move people to Europe and elsewhere around the globe. A source in Islamabad said that early estimates indicate it may be a $1 billion per annum business and that many Afghans have been caught up in the scheme.
THE TALIBAN DOUBLES DOWN ON CLAIMS THAT THE COUNTRY IS ‘TERRORIST FREE’ BUT IS ANYBODY LISTENING – It’s bizarre. The Taliban brain trust continues to push these talking points while seemingly unaware the rest of the world stopped listening ages ago. Even those States who might be considered supportive of the Taliban’s cause don’t seem to take the constant denials seriously. Such was the case on Monday as the spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior took the podium and repeated the lies that countless other functionaries have said before him. In this instance, he was discussing the displacement of suspected TTP militants from the border with Pakistan to more remote Provinces in Afghanistan. The situation must be galling for those educated Taliban who are subjected to this nonsense.
IRANIAN OIL EXPORTERS UNION CHIEF SAYS THE TALIBAN HAVE HALTED FUEL PURCHASES FROM IRAN – After months of low-quality fuel being dumped on the Afghan market, the Taliban have had enough and told the head of Iran’s Oil Exporter’s Union that they will no longer buy fuel from the country. Instead, the Taliban intend to buy higher-quality fuel from Russia and Uzbekistan.
NEXT 24 HOURS
NO THREATS REPORTED
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
France says it has banned an Iranian opposition rally over a threat it had received from an anonymous group who claimed it would launch an ‘attack’ at the upcoming protest.
The regime released a report claiming that 20 foreign nations were responsible for inciting the riots that rocked the country (and which persist in several Provinces).
Top security officials hosted a Hamas delegation visit in Tehran.
PAKISTAN
The government announced that eligible voter rolls would be frozen after 13 July in anticipation of upcoming elections.
The popular news channel, SAMAA TV announced that it had relaunched its operations in London and began broadcasting on various streaming platforms.
The Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, said on Monday that the economy has bottomed out and is set for a rebound while urging the various political parties to form a panel to steer the country out of its economic situation.
SPOTLIGHT IMMIGRATION
AI translation is jeopardizing Afghan asylum claims
By Andrew Deck - Rest of World
It is difficult to say how prevalent machine translation is in the immigration system, but there’s clear evidence it is being used. In 2019, ProPublica reported that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers were instructed to use Google Translate to vet the social media accounts of asylum applicants. Major translation companies like LanguageLine, TransPerfect, and Lionbridge have contracts with U.S. federal immigration agencies, some totaling millions of dollars. Each of these companies advertises machine translation in its suite of services. Ultimately, it is up to each agency and department whether they opt in or out of these tools in their day-to-day operations.
AFGHAN NEWS
By The Global Times
The withdrawal of US troops left Afghanistan in disarray while American "counter-terrorism" efforts paradoxically fostered an…
Takhar youth claim govt jobs being offered based on kinship
By Mohammad Yaseen Joya - Pajhwok Afghan News
Some educated youth in northern Takhar province have expressed their concern over what they claim increasing appointments in government offices based on…
Aid Group: World Failing Afghanistan During Major Locust Outbreak
By Ayaz Gul - VOA
A global aid agency warned Monday that a large-scale plague of locusts is ravaging northern Afghanistan and could destroy 1.2 million metric tons of wheat, almost…
REGIONAL NEWS
Iran Pledges to Facilitate Visas for Afghan Traders
By Asma Saayin - TOLO News
The embassy of Iran in Kabul pledges to bring further facilities for Afghan traders in a bid to improve trade ties between the two…
By Aida Haidar - The Astana Times
Addressing the situation in Afghanistan remains on top of the agenda for Central Asia, said Michael Levystone, an associate research fellow at the Institut Français des…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Participants at UNHRC Meeting Voice Concerns Over Afghan Human Rights
By Banafsha Binesh - TOLO News
The UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur for Afghan human rights, Richard Bennett, told the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva that the…
Afghanistan's 'gender apartheid' should be international crime: UN expert
By The New Arab
The UN's top expert on rights in Afghanistan urged countries Monday to consider making "gender apartheid" an international crime, helping hold the…
THE DAILY WTF
MoI says no militant groups including TTP in Afghanistan
By Ariana News
The Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on Monday rejected Pakistan’s claims of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members being moved…
“Maybe if we keep saying it, it will come true.” TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 85.86 AFN (as of 20 JUN 2023)