Connect with us

News

Escape hopes dashed for thousands of Afghans at Taliban crossing

Published

on

File photo: Refugees queue on the tarmac after disembarking from an evacuation flight from Kabul, at the Torrejon de Ardoz air base, 30 km from Madrid, on August 24, 2021. PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP

Thousands of Afghans trying to escape the misery at home have flocked to their country’s southern border with Pakistan, but their attempts to get across have been stopped by the Taliban. 

Zakariullah, sitting on a dirt road in the trading town of Spin Boldak only a few hundred metres from Pakistan, says he has been turned back more than half a dozen times, sometimes violently.

“They say only people from the area with papers,” Zakariullah, a 25-year-old farmer and father of three, told AFP on the weekend.

“We want to cross the border to work there because there are no jobs here.”

The new Taliban rulers insist Afghans need to stay and rebuild their conflict-ravaged country.

“They tell people ‘It’s your country. You should not leave’,” said 25-year-old Rahmadin Wardak, who was also trying to flee.

On the other side, their Pakistani counterparts in Chaman were also stopping those attempting to cross.

“Every day, 8,000 to 9,000 people try to cross the border without having the necessary papers, and are turned back,” one Taliban border guard, Mullah Maulvi Haqyar, told AFP.

Maulvi Noor Mohammad Saeed, a Taliban official in Kandahar province, confirmed the authorities were asking “people and families to not leave the country”.

“Doing that, you lose respect for your Afghan culture,” he told AFP.

Sticks and Pipes

At the border, only day labourers and traders — all young men wearing traditional flat pakol hats and sweating under the weight of their goods — were allowed to cram into a narrow corridor topped with barbed wire that led to the next checkpoint.

A second corridor for other travellers lay mostly empty, with a few exceptions including elderly men and women loaded onto wheelbarrows seeking urgent healthcare in Pakistan.

But scores of Afghans are eager to leave a country on the verge of economic collapse since the Islamists seized power in mid-August and foreign aid money dried up.

Jobs have vanished while farmers are struggling with the impact of a drought.

The United Nations has warned a third of the population is facing the threat of famine.

Zakariullah, whose farmland was 600 kilometres in Kabul province, said he now hoped to find work in Pakistan. He would then send for his wife and children to join him.

But, like many others at the border crossing, the journey to Spin Boldak has stripped away his meagre savings.

Mohammed Arif said he left his home in Nangarhar in the east because he had “no money, no food to feed my eight children”.

Commotion erupted outside the border office as hundreds pleaded with the Taliban to let them through, during a visit by AFP on the weekend.

Guards wielding sticks and pipes tried to control the frenzied scene as a crush of people pushed to get across to sell their possessions — and keep hunger at bay for a few more hours.

None of them made it.

Critical Situation

Before the Covid pandemic and recent upheavals, the border was mostly open, with few restrictions for the tens of thousands who crossed daily.

But when the Taliban seized Spin Boldak early on in their dizzying offensive, Pakistan shut the gates and left huge crowds of stranded travellers to amass on both sides.

The crossing reopened when the hardline group ousted the US-backed government and assumed power in mid-August.

More Afghans arrived, fearing the Taliban would return to their brutal rule in the 1990s.

“At first, lots of people could cross,” said Sami Ul Haq, who monitors the crossing point for the UN refugee agency UNHCR. “Before we had up to 24,000 people coming a day.”

There were few restrictions at the crossing during the last two weeks of August, but then the Taliban and Pakistanis clamped down.

And on Thursday, the Taliban said they were shuttering the gates completely in protest against Pakistan — which has repeatedly said it would not accept Afghan refugees — accusing officials of creating hurdles for Afghans with the right papers.

The UNHCR has meanwhile not reported huge movements of people towards the borders.

With the war over, some Afghan refugees living in Pakistan have even returned.

But the agency last month said it was preparing contingency plans for up to 500,000 rushing into neighbouring countries by the end of the year.

“We need to prepare in case any change inside the country could trigger a massive displacement,” Bertrand Blanc, a UNHCR senior emergency officer, told AFP in Islamabad.

“For the moment, we are in a wait and see situation.”

 

Comments

News

Tinubu at 73: FERMA House Committee Chair, Oseni Hails President’s Leadership

Published

on

By

 

Says Tinubu’s policies shaping Nigeria’s future

 

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, (FERMA), Engr. Aderemi Oseni has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on his 73rd birthday, describing him as a transformative leader whose commitment to national development remains unwavering.

In a statement on Saturday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the lawmaker, who also represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, praised Tinubu for his visionary leadership and dedication to Nigeria’s progress. According to him, the President’s political trajectory and governance philosophy have laid the foundation for a more prosperous nation.

“President Tinubu’s contributions to Nigeria’s political and economic development are unparalleled. His leadership has inspired a new era of governance rooted in progressive ideals and economic transformation,” Oseni said.

The lawmaker highlighted the President’s role in fostering democratic growth, strengthening institutions, and implementing key economic reforms aimed at stabilising the nation. He added that Tinubu’s policies, particularly in infrastructure and road rehabilitation, are crucial to Nigeria’s long-term development.

Oseni commended Tinubu for prioritising road infrastructure, stating that a well-maintained road network is essential for economic expansion and national cohesion. He pledged his committee’s continued support in ensuring that FERMA’s projects align with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Beyond infrastructure, the lawmaker lauded Tinubu’s economic policies, including efforts to attract foreign investments and promote industrialisation. He expressed optimism that the government’s initiatives would yield tangible results, urging Nigerians to remain patient as reforms take shape.

“As a nation, we must rally behind the President’s agenda for economic recovery. Nation-building is a collective effort, and we must support policies that drive growth, stability, and prosperity,” he stated.

Oseni prayed for the President’s good health and strength, urging leaders across the country to emulate Tinubu’s resilience, strategic foresight, and inclusive governance.

 

 

Continue Reading

News

Olugbon, Olori Mourn Abisola Kola-Daisi, Commiserate with Ajimobi, Kola-Daisi Families

Published

on

By

The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon and Vice Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olushola Alao, alongside his wife, Olori Olushola Adedoyin Alao, has expressed deep sorrow over the sudden passing of Mrs. Abisola Kola-Daisi, daughter of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Chief (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi.

In a jointly signed condolence message, the royal couple described the news as heartbreaking, especially coming just five years after the demise of the former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

They extended their sympathies to Mr. Idris Kolapo Kola-Daisi, Abisola’s husband, their children, as well as Chief Kola Daisi and the entire Kola-Daisi family, urging them to find strength in this difficult time.

“This tragic loss has brought sorrow to the hearts of friends, relations, and well-wishers of the esteemed Ajimobi and Kola-Daisi families. Bisola’s warm smile brightened the lives of those around her, and she carried herself with grace, nobility, and kindness,” the statement read.

Praying for divine comfort and fortitude for the bereaved families, the Olugbon and Olori noted that though Abisola’s life was brief, it was impactful and meaningful.

“We urge the family to take solace in the remarkable life she lived. A short but impactful life is truly valuable. May Almighty Allah grant her Aljanna Firdaus,” they added.

The royal couple also prayed that God would grant Chief (Mrs.) Ajimobi, her children, and the entire Kola-Daisi family the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

Continue Reading

News

Rep. Oseni Condoles Late Gov. Ajimobi, Kola-Daisi Families Over Bisola’s Passing

Published

on

By

The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Aderemi Oseni has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Mrs Bisola Kola-Daisi, daughter of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, described Bisola’s death as a tragic loss not only to her family but also to the wider Oyo State community.

In a condolence message issued on Thursday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the lawmaker sympathised with the Ajimobi and Kola-Daisi families, praying for divine strength and comfort in their time of grief.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mrs Bisola Kola-Daisi. My heart goes out to the Ajimobi and Kola-Daisi families, especially, our late leader’s widow, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi during this painful period. May God grant them the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss,” he said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain urged the late governor’s wife, Chief Florence Ajimobi and other members of the bereaved families to find solace in Bisola’s impactful life. He emphasised that, beyond being the daughter of a respected former governor, she distinguished herself as a businesswoman and philanthropist, leaving behind a remarkable legacy.

“Bisola was a woman of substance who made significant contributions to society. Her kindness, dedication, and commitment to excellence will always be remembered,” Oseni added.

The lawmaker also extended his condolences to Bisola’s husband, Mr Idris Kola-Daisi, acknowledging the immense pain he must be experiencing. He prayed for divine strength for him and the entire Kola-Daisi family as they navigate this difficult time.

Oseni further called on the public to keep the bereaved families in their thoughts and prayers. He prayed that Almighty God grants Bisola eternal rest and gives her loved ones the resilience to endure the painful loss.

Continue Reading

Trending