“Abdullah expresses a deep sense of betrayal, stating to the BBC, ‘It’s as if the United States fails to recognise my contributions to this country.'”
He escaped Afghanistan alongside his parents during the US withdrawal in August 2021 and currently serves as a paratrooper in the US military. He expresses concern over his inability to assist his sister and her husband in their escape, citing President Donald Trump’s executive order that has halted a resettlement program.
The directive halts all flights and puts a stop to applications for Afghan refugees, with no exceptions made for the families of current servicemembers.
Trump contends that the decision responds to “record levels of migration”, which pose a threat to “the availability of resources for Americans”.
Abdullah, along with several other Afghan refugees, expressed to the BBC their sentiment that the United States has “turned its back” on them. This feeling persists despite their years of collaboration with American officials, military personnel, and non-profit organisations in Afghanistan. The individuals involved have chosen to remain anonymous, citing concerns that revealing their true identities might compromise their legal situations or endanger their families.
Upon receiving news of the order, Abdullah promptly contacted his sister in Afghanistan. “She was in tears, having lost all hope,” he remarked. He asserts that his efforts have rendered her a target of the Taliban regime that assumed control in 2021.
The level of anxiety experienced is truly beyond comprehension. “She believes we may never have the chance to meet again,” he states.
Abdullah claims he served as an interpreter for US forces during the war. Upon his departure from Afghanistan, his sister and her husband could not secure passports to catch the flight.
Suhail Shaheen, representing the Taliban government, informed the BBC that an amnesty has been declared for individuals who collaborated with international forces, asserting that all Afghans can “live in the country without any fear.” He claims that these refugees are “economic migrants.”
A 2023 report from the United Nations raised concerns regarding the assurances provided by the Taliban government. Reports indicate that numerous former government officials and armed forces personnel were reportedly killed, raising concerns about the effectiveness of a general amnesty in place.
Abdullah’s sister and her husband have successfully completed the necessary medical examinations and interviews as part of the resettlement process to the United States. The BBC has obtained a document from the US Department of Defence confirming support for their application.
Abdullah argues that Trump’s claim regarding high immigration rates does not warrant his separation from his family. He recounts nights devoid of sleep, expressing that the anxiety is impacting his performance in his combat unit while serving the United States.
Babak, who previously served as a legal adviser to the Afghan Air Force, remains in hiding within Afghanistan.
“They are not merely failing to uphold their commitment to us; they are fundamentally undermining our very existence,” he states.
Documents obtained by the BBC reveal correspondence from the United Nations affirming his involvement, alongside a letter from a Lt Colonel in the US Air Force supporting his asylum application. The endorsement states that he offered guidance on operations aimed at militants associated with both the Taliban and the Islamic State group.
Babak expresses confusion over the president’s decision, particularly regarding his experience working alongside US troops. Our lives were put on the line due to those missions. “We find ourselves in serious peril,” he states.
He has been relocating his wife and young son from one place to another, urgently seeking to remain out of sight. He alleges that his brother endured torture to uncover his location. The BBC cannot confirm this aspect of his account due to the nature of the allegations made.
Babak urges Trump and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to reconsider their positions.
Mike Waltz’s background includes service in Afghanistan. “He urges us to support the president,” he says.
In a poignant farewell, he remarks, “The one ray of light we’ve been holding onto has been extinguished.”
Ahmad successfully departed for the United States during the tumultuous withdrawal, yet he now finds himself apart from his family. He believed he had no option but to depart from his father, mother, and teenage siblings.
He asserts that had he and his father not collaborated with the US, their family would not be facing threats from the Taliban government. “I can’t sleep, aware that I am partly responsible for their predicament,” he states.
Before the Taliban’s ascendance to power, Ahmad was employed by a non-profit organisation, the Open Government Partnership (OGP), established by the United States 13 years ago and is based in Washington, D.C. He claims that his most significant achievement is the establishment of a specialised court aimed at addressing abuses against women.
He asserts that his efforts at OGP and his advocacy for women’s rights rendered him a target, leading to an attack by Taliban fighters in 2021, before the Taliban’s takeover of the country.
A letter from a Pennsylvania hospital has been reviewed by the BBC, detailing an assessment of “evidence of injury from bullet and bullet fragments.” The hospital claims this evidence aligns with the individual’s account of events in Kabul.
He claims that the situation is further exacerbated by the fact that his family is at risk, as his father served as a colonel in the Afghan army and provided assistance to the CIA. A certificate has come to light, issued by the Afghan National Security Forces, expressing gratitude to his father for his service.
Ahmad reports that his family has faced harassment from the Taliban government, prompting them to seek refuge in Pakistan. Photos obtained by the BBC reveal that Ahmad’s father and brother are receiving treatment in a hospital for injuries that Ahmad alleges were caused by individuals associated with the Taliban government.
The family has successfully navigated multiple phases of the resettlement program. He claims to have presented evidence demonstrating that he possesses sufficient funds to support his family, independent of government assistance, upon their arrival in the US.
Ahmad has declared that the situation is critical. His family is currently in Pakistan on visas that expire in a matter of months. He contacted the International Organisation for Migration, where he was advised to “be patient.”
The leader of AfghanEvac, a non-profit organisation dedicated to assisting eligible Afghan refugees in their resettlement efforts, has estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 individuals are currently in the final stages of their application processes.
Mina, currently expecting a child, has endured a six-month wait for her flight from Islamabad. She fears that her anxiety may pose a risk to her unborn child. “If I lose the baby, I’ll take my own life,” she stated in an interview with the BBC.
She recounts her experiences of protesting for women’s rights, continuing her activism even after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. She alleges that she was taken into custody in 2023 and held for the night.
“At that time, my desire to remain in Afghanistan was strong.” “After my release, I went into hiding, but they reached out and warned me that next time, they would kill me,” she states.
Mina expresses concern that the Pakistani government may deport her back to Afghanistan. Pakistan’s decision to limit the duration of asylum for Afghan refugees is a significant factor in the ongoing situation.
Over decades marked by instability in the region, the country has welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees from its neighbouring nation. The UN refugee agency reports that the government is home to three million Afghan nationals, with approximately 1.4 million holding documentation.
Amid escalating cross-border tensions with the Taliban government, concerns are mounting regarding the situation of Afghans in Pakistan, highlighted by reports of alleged intimidation and detentions. The UN special rapporteur has expressed concern, stating that Afghans in the region are entitled to improved treatment.
The government of Pakistan has announced the expulsion of foreign nationals residing illegally in the country, explicitly returning them to Afghanistan. Officials have also confirmed that search raids took place in January as part of this initiative.
The International Organisation for Migration reports that over 795,000 Afghans have been expelled from Pakistan since September 2023.
Afghan refugees express a profound sense of being trapped, torn between a perilous homeland and a host country that appears to be losing its tolerance.
Their expectations were firmly placed on the United States, yet what once appeared to be a secure refuge has now been unexpectedly shut off by the newly inaugurated president, pending further updates.
