Daily Evacuation Brief | October 7, 2023
LAST 24 HOURS
PETITION TO HOLD PAKISTAN’S LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR DEPORTATION DECISION STARTED – We have launched an ONLINE PETITION to hold those decision-makers in Pakistan’s interim regime accountable for the inhumane and heinous decision they have taken regarding Afghan refugees in the country. Please consider signing and sharing..
IRAN APPEARS TO BE RAMPING UP TO FOLLOW PAKISTAN’S LEAD REGARDING DEPORTATIONS – Several troubling signs have been steadily coming out of Iran concerning a possible xenophobic reaction similar to that which has culminated in a mass deportation order in Pakistan. The Iranian Press has devoted several articles over the past two months that questioned the security threat posed by the Afghans living in the country. Some members of the government have pushed back against the recent articles and have sought to calm fears over the Afghan diaspora but remarks by the Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi yesterday followed closely remarks made by his counterpart in Pakistan. During a press briefing on Thursday, Vahidi told journalists “Those who are unauthorized should not be in the country, and those who are legally present should operate within the defined framework.” Many analysts are concerned these comments are a precursor to a Pakistan-style mass deportation. Iran has deported far more Afghan nationals than any other neighboring State and has made it clear that only legal immigration would be allowed across the border. Large demonstrations were reported in select Provinces against Afghans and there are unconfirmed reports that some Afghan homes were vandalized. While nothing definitive has come from Tehran, the rumblings in Pakistan bore a close resemblance to what is now happening in Iran. Organizations focusing on evacuation/resettlement efforts are advised to monitor the situation closely.
BRIBE-A-THON 2023 – An ancillary effect from Pakistan’s deportation edict has been a boon to corrupt police officers in Pakistan. We have confirmed that in several instances, bribes were commonly asked for (and paid) when Police searched a facility lodging Afghan refugees. While this practice has continued since virtually the beginning of the crisis in 2021, the deportation program has kicked things into high gear. A common tactic that has been reported is for a police officer to gather all documents and then threaten deportation but then suggest that a short reprieve can be obtained by paying a ‘processing fee’. In most cases, the bribes paid have totaled less than $30 dollars but there is no guarantee the Afghans will not be approached after this ‘arbitrary’ reprieve expires.
PAKISTANI POLICE MAY HAVE ORDERED LANDLORDS AND HOTELS TO EVICT AFGHAN CITIZENS – Some Afghans who are residing in Pakistan legally have reported that they were issued a 20-day notice to depart their accommodations in Pakistan. Sources in Islamabad say this action caused significant pushback from organizations representing the tourism industry who say they will have difficulty filling the rooms, apartments, and homes that are currently rented by Afghan citizens. We are still looking for an official order from the Pakistani authorities that confirms what the owners of these businesses are telling their Afghan tenants, but we think it is important to put the information out to those involved in the evacuation effort so they can develop contingency plans. An unconfirmed report was circulated on Friday that said Islamabad’s police had warned Mosques and Schools against sheltering Afghan nationals.
NEXT 24 HOURS
ANTI-AFGHAN DEMONSTRATIONS IN IRAN COULD CONTINUE - The demonstrations that were reported in several locations across Iran yesterday could return today as crowds are feeding off of misleading media and government reports about security threats attributed to the Afghan diaspora. The crowds that gathered yesterday appeared to be somewhat coordinated and may have been responding to an unknown central authority. If true, there could be further xenophobic demonstrations that could turn violent. At-risk Afghans residing in the country are advised to remain home if at all possible and check local social media channels for information about potential threats in their respective locations.
PAKISTAN HARASSMENT LIKELY TO CONTINUE - Police will almost certainly continue the harassment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan for the foreseeable future. At-risk Afghans residing in the country are encouraged to maintain contact with friends/family abroad and keep them updated as to their situation.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Fresh controversy is swirling over the young girl who was reputedly beaten by morality police members and is now in a coma. The girl’s parents were interviewed and CCTV footage from a train station appears to confirm that the young lady lost consciousness and hit her head.
The Iranian gender rights activist, Narges Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday for her work on behalf of women and human rights. Mohammadi released a note from her prison cell thanking those who have supported her. Iranian leaders criticized the award and claimed it was only awarded out of political concerns.
A number of US F-35 fighter aircraft that had been deployed to the region to counter Iranian and Russian aggression have returned to the United States after a successful deployment.
PAKISTAN
Initial reports suggested a massive explosion occurred near a nuclear research facility in Dera Ghaza Khan. Authorities later confirmed the sounds were caused by Pakistani Air Force jets who were conducting exercises in the area.
Pakistan’s gold bourse has been abandoned by investors as the Government has instituted a crackdown on tax evasion and smuggling. This crackdown and a complimentary one on currency markets are credited with the strong rise in the Rupee.
A Pakistani citizen became the first to reach space when the fourth Virgin Galactic mission lifted off from New Mexico in the United States on 7 October. The individual’s name has been withheld over privacy concerns.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Repatriation Of Afghan Nationals In Pakistan: Balancing Security And Humanity
By Anwar Iqbal - EurAsian Review
For decades, Pakistan has been a host to millions of Afghan refugees, providing them with shelter and support during times of turmoil in their homeland. However, as the security and economic environment in Pakistan undergo changes, the repatriation of illegal Afghan nationals has become a pressing issue. With over 1.1 million Afghan refugees lacking valid documentation or visas to stay in the country, addressing this situation is of paramount importance.
AFGHAN NEWS
Afghan Women Speak Out About Life and Resistance Two Years After the Taliban Takeover
By Inter Press Service
The stories of more than 50 women living in Afghanistan are featured on the new After August website – a collaboration between UN Women Afghanistan, Zan Times, Limbo, and…
REGIONAL NEWS
Iranian protesters target Afghan migrant homes, chanting ‘Afghans must disappear’
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Some protesters resorted to violence, attacking the homes of Afghan migrants with rocks and wooden objects, highlighting the complex challenges surrounding immigration and the pressing need for dialogue and…
Pakistan’s Move to Expel Afghan Refugees Sparks Reactions
By TOLO News
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson of Pakistan’s foreign ministry, in an interview with Pakistani media said the caretaker government's decision to expel refugees is…
Afghan women refugees report mistreatment and police torture in Pakistan
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Several immigrant women have reported experiencing mistreatment and, sometimes, even police torture during their…
Pakistan police instruct residential owners to evict Afghan nationals
By Bais Hayat - AMU TV
In response to the Pakistani government’s decision to deport over 1.73 million “Afghan migrants”, Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies have directed hotels and residential establishments to expel…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
‘Patience’ and dialogue with Taliban only way forward: Afghanistan mission chief
By The United Nations
The top UN political official in Afghanistan remains hopeful that Taliban leaders will reverse their stance on women’s rights, urging the international community not to give up on…
Afghanistan’s embassy in Spain ‘engages’ with Taliban for ‘enhanced consular services’
By Siyar Sirat - AMU TV
Afghanistan’s embassy in Spain released a statement on Friday, indicating its “engagement” with the Taliban’s foreign ministry in Kabul to facilitate “improved consulate services” for…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban draw closer to China and say they will protect Chinese citizens in Afghanistan as ‘our own’
By Arpan Rai - The Independent
The Taliban have strongly vowed to protect citizens from China against terrorist threats on their soil, the latest sign of a…
“We wonder how this was received in Beijing?” TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 75.79 AFN (as of 7 OCT 2023)