ISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghans who fled their homeland after the Taliban took control have urgently appealed to President Donald Trump to exempt them from a suspension of the U.S. refugee program. An estimated 15,000 Afghans are currently awaiting resettlement in Pakistan, having supported U.S. operations as interpreters, contractors, and human rights defenders, they claim.

This refugee program was implemented to protect at-risk Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. However, the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, announced at the start of Trump’s presidency, has put their futures in jeopardy. Ideally, the program was meant to facilitate resettlement for individuals whose lives are now in danger due to their affiliations with the U.S. government, media, and humanitarian groups. An official statement noted that the program would be paused from January 27, pending a review to assess its resumption. Unfortunately, this means that many Afghans are left in a vulnerable state, facing potential deportation back to Afghanistan.

In Pakistan, refugee conditions are deteriorating. Authorities have expressed concern, stating that they cannot indefinitely host the 1.45 million Afghan refugees present in the country. “The Taliban views us as traitors, and returning means risking arrest or worse,” stated an advocacy group named Afghan USRAP Refugees, urging action from the U.S. government and Congress. AP News reported similar sentiments, highlighting that many refugees live in fear of arbitrary arrests and deportations.

Among those appealing for help is Hadisa Bibi, a former university student who fled Kabul. She fears for her safety as a women’s rights advocate amidst severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban. “I was hoping for a swift resettlement to enable me to continue my education in the U.S.,” she lamented, echoing the perspective of many young women in similar predicaments. Mahnoosh Monir, another aspiring student, described the inability to pursue her medical education due to the Taliban’s regime. “Afghanistan is no longer a place for any girl or woman to survive,” she stated solemnly.

Many refugees, like Bibi and Monir, have undergone interviews with the International Organization for Migration, hoping for flights to the U.S. that were supposed to commence in early 2023. “We urge the reversal of the ban on humanitarian grounds,” stated Ahmad Shah, another member of the advocacy group, who had been scheduled to leave Pakistan in March.

The Taliban's restrictions have not only stripped women of educational opportunities but have also left entire families in limbo. Reporters Without Borders has documented significant anxiety among Afghan journalists now stranded in Pakistan, highlighting their vulnerability to police harassment and deportation threats. For many, the path ahead remains uncertain as they await a resolution from the U.S.

Additionally, about 3,200 Afghans have found temporary refuge in Albania, with the government there initially agreeing to accommodate them for one year. However, they have since indicated their readiness to extend this support if visa issues arise.

Understanding the gravity of their situation, the Afghan community in Pakistan has made impassioned calls for urgent intervention, emphasizing the immediate need for a reassessment of the refugee program to ensure their safety and future.

For more information regarding the plight of Afghan refugees, visit India Times.