This is the third installment in a Washington Examiner series detailing the struggles of Afghan activists and allies affected by the United States’s withdrawal.
The risks to Afghans who supported women’s rights, fought for the principles of democracy, or worked for the former Afghan government greatly increased in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Around 63,000 Afghans have attempted to flee these dangers through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program or the humanitarian parole visa program. Many remain stuck in Afghanistan. Others have made their way to third countries only to be greeted by new challenges. These are the stories of three Afghans awaiting assistance. Their names have been changed to protect their identities.
In May 2021, the Taliban left an improvised explosive device on Zahra’s doorstep. Her daughter notified the police, who were luckily able to disarm the device before it exploded. It was another in a series of troubles the Taliban have unleashed upon the esteemed girls’ high school principal and women’s rights activist.
Though she has a Priority 1 referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and the assistance of evacuation group Operation 620, Zahra and her family remain stuck in Afghanistan. Not long after the Taliban takeover, Taliban fighters beat Zahra and her husband with a gun. Several weeks ago, the Taliban beat Zahra and her daughter because they left the house without a male escort. Once an activist for humanity, Zahra is now frightened to step outside.
As a well-respected presenter for a renowned Afghan television network, Hamid said the Taliban previously targeted him because he promoted democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech. Prior to August, the Taliban informed Hamid he was on a target list and would soon be killed. Hamid went into hiding but continued to work for his news network until November, when he finally managed to leave for Pakistan.
In Pakistan, Hamid could finally undergo processing for his Priority 2 referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Without work, however, Hamid can barely afford to care for his wife and 5-year-old daughter. As a State Department official tells me, processing for referral candidates can take “12-18 months or longer.” For now, he remains in limbo.
Of around 35,000 Afghans who have applied for a humanitarian parole visa, Sohrab is one of 34,390 still awaiting a response. A four-year employee of the National Directorate of Security, Sohrab now performs odd jobs to support his family while trying to evade his extended family’s threats to turn him in to the Taliban.
Several months ago, a stranger offered to transport Sohrab to the United Arab Emirates or Qatar for several thousand U.S. dollars. Though he knew this was likely a scam, as similar incidents had previously led to the deaths of several Afghans desperate to exit the country, Sohrab strongly considered the offer. Ultimately, Sohrab made the difficult decision to remain in Afghanistan, hoping that he would receive assistance from an evacuation group, or approval of his humanitarian parole visa.
Unfortunately, Sohrab’s struggles only escalated. His concerns rose after the Taliban killed another former NDS member and two of his relatives on Jan. 11, claiming all three were part of a group of ISIS-K fighters. Days later, Sohrab was assaulted by his sisters-in-law, who turned him in to the Taliban the following day. On Jan. 15, Sohrab was arrested and questioned for three hours. On release, the Taliban told Sohrab he must respond when they call on him in the future and that he should not make plans to leave the country.
Once filled with motivation, Sohrab is noticeably deflated, saying he’s “lost all my hope.”
Beth Bailey (@BWBailey85) is a freelance writer in the Detroit area.
