What is the future of refugees in Afghanistan?

The current situation in Afghanistan

Afghan refugees fleeing their country

[해외특파원 1기 / 이준서 기자] The Taliban are controlling key cross-border locations with neighboring countries in Afghanistan, which allow only traders or those with valid travel documents to leave Afghanistan, BBC reporters stated. However, many of those trying to escape for their own and family’s safety under the Taliban regime will not do any paperwork. The United Nations has urged Afghan neighbors to open their borders to refugees and the international community to assist them. The recent Afghan movement is part of a historical departure from a country that has been at odds with instability for decades. According to the UNHCR, more than 550,000 people had to leave their homes in 2021 due to  conflict such as political and religious fator before the Taliban came back to power. This suggests that an estimated 3.5 million people have now been deported from Afghanistan.

Afghans who supported activities like people who worked at the embassy and helped rebuild the Korean government their homeland, dubbed “Miracle Operations,” airlifted a total of 390 people in three days to complete the withdrawal. A second detachment of 13 Afghans arrived at Incheon International Airport in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Thursday morning. The first 377 Afghans arrived Thursday(8/27). While the government announced on August 27th that 378 people had entered the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs proclaimed that 377 people had actually entered the country. According to the Ministry of National Defense, 391 people arrived in Islamabad from Kabul on two military planes. Once again, when the identification was scrutinized at the stopover, the government found one person missing from the evacuation list.

Afghanistan is on the verge of deterioration due to new Western sanctions against the Taliban regime. The Taliban lacks policy experience in resolving crises on its own. However, if the problem is not resolved quickly, the organization will struggle to strengthen its power, resulting in the failure of the system. Violent resistance will follow, unrest and economic pressure will trigger new flows of refugees.