Abandoned allies

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In a cruel twist of fate, the very Afghans who risked their lives to aid US forces during a two-decade long war are now left stranded, with their futures cast into uncertainty. Nearly 25,000 Afghans who fled Taliban rule during the chaotic US withdrawal in August 2021 remain in Pakistan, caught in limbo as the US turns its back on the promises it once made.

These Afghans, who served as interpreters, contractors and essential allies to the US military, cannot return to Afghanistan without facing grave threats. Pakistan, hosting them temporarily at Washington's request, was assured that they would be relocated to the US by September 2025. Yet, despite slow progress under the Biden administration, President Donald Trump's sweeping executive order this week has completely derailed the Afghan refugee programme. Over 1,600 Afghans who were on the brink of boarding flights to safety now find themselves abandoned. This decision is nothing short of a betrayal. These individuals stood with the US in its most trying moments, often at immense personal risk. By suspending the resettlement plan, the US is not only endangering their lives but also risks straining relations with Pakistan.

Pakistan bears the brunt of this policy failure. Tasked with hosting thousands of refugees amid an already challenging economic and security environment, Islamabad now faces the added strain of managing a situation it was assured would be temporary. Cross-border instability and domestic pressures make this an untenable position, one that unfairly shifts the burden of responsibility from Washington to Pakistan. The US must act swiftly to undo this. It owes these Afghans not just a pathway to safety but also a recognition of their service and sacrifice.