The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized its support for continued humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and the establishment of peace in the country.

Shafqat Ali Khan, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Monday, January 20, praised Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, for his efforts to draw the international community’s attention to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

In a statement, the ministry noted, “It would have been more appropriate if the world had not abandoned the Afghan people after the war and had instead created favorable socio-economic conditions within Afghanistan to help them thrive.”

The ministry further highlighted that Pakistan has hosted approximately four million Afghan refugees for over four decades.

During his visit to Afghanistan, Jan Egeland warned of the global community’s neglect of Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, stating that 22 million people in the country are in need of assistance.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s police have intensified their crackdown on Afghan migrants in Islamabad over recent weeks, creating significant challenges for the refugee population.

This comes amid the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, where many face harassment, extortion, and detention. Reports show that Afghan migrants, including women and children, are arbitrarily detained and subjected to mistreatment and fines. The intensified crackdown in Islamabad and other areas has left refugees in fear, worsening their precarious situation.

In addition to deportations, Afghan refugees are under severe psychological and financial strain. Many struggle with complex legal and administrative challenges. Human rights organizations have voiced concerns about these violations and urged Pakistan to halt its actions. They also called on the global community to protect Afghan refugees’ rights and dignity.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan requires immediate and sustained international attention to address the plight of millions of people in need. Pakistan’s longstanding role in hosting Afghan refugees underscores the shared responsibility of the global community to support the region during this critical time.

To ensure lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, global powers must prioritize socio-economic development and humanitarian aid within the country. Simultaneously, the rights and dignity of Afghan migrants abroad, particularly in host countries like Pakistan, must be safeguarded to prevent further hardship.

A senior Republican senator from the United States, Lindsey Graham, has expressed grave concerns over the rising presence of ISIS in Afghanistan and the increasing global conflicts. He warned of the potential for ISIS to attack the U.S., stating, “I have never been more worried about an attack on my homeland.”

In an interview with CBS News, Graham responded to questions from Margaret Brennan, emphasizing the critical need to bolster border security. He proposed $100 billion as a necessary investment to address external threats effectively.

Graham highlighted the urgency of prioritizing national security, asserting that the Republican Party’s primary focus should be border security, especially given ISIS’s growing influence in Afghanistan and ongoing wars worldwide.

He warned that neglecting these security measures would be akin to playing “Russian roulette” with national security. He stressed the importance of securing borders, adequately funding the military, and then addressing tax reductions and budget cuts.

The senator’s concerns align with previous warnings from Michael McCaul, former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who also cautioned that ISIS is resurging in Afghanistan under Taliban control.

Although the Taliban claims to have eradicated ISIS in Afghanistan and denies the use of Afghan soil for foreign attacks, independent global reports suggest otherwise. The United Nations Security Council has indicated that ISIS continues to recruit and expand its influence, even infiltrating Taliban security structures.

Lindsey Graham’s warnings reflect mounting fears over ISIS’s resurgence in Afghanistan and its implications for U.S. security. Addressing these concerns requires prioritizing border security, reinforcing the military, and collaborating with international partners to counter growing threats. Ignoring these issues could pose severe risks to global and national stability.

A number of artists and human rights activists have protested in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in support of Afghan women.

The gathering, held on Saturday, January 18, aimed to oppose gender apartheid, violence, and the suppression of women in the country.

This protest was initiated by “Bamdad – House of Poetry in Exile” and supported by artists and women’s rights activists.

During the protest, dozens of artists used poetry and protest songs to amplify the voices of women silenced and erased by the Taliban.

Participants read poems that highlighted the deprivation of women in Afghanistan.

The organizers of the gathering mentioned that this was their second protest in the Netherlands regarding the situation of women.

For over three and a half years, the Taliban has completely excluded women from public life, including banning them from education, employment, parks, and markets.

The ongoing protests serve as a powerful reminder of the grave situation faced by Afghan women under the Taliban’s rule. The international community must continue to raise awareness and support efforts to restore the rights and dignity of women in Afghanistan.

The persistence of these protests also reflects the determination of Afghan women and their supporters to resist oppression and fight for a future where women are no longer silenced or excluded from society.

Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, has announced that Iran deported over 3,000 Afghan refugees in a single day. He warned that these individuals have no resources to restart their lives in Afghanistan, a country where millions are already in desperate need of assistance.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on January 19, Jan Egeland stated that the deported individuals crossed into Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border.

Egeland further explained that the Norwegian Refugee Council and other organizations are providing assistance and counseling to the deported migrants at the border. However, many of the migrants have told him that they have nothing to return to in Afghanistan and are forced to start over from scratch in a country where 22 million people are already in need of humanitarian aid.

Having recently visited Afghanistan, Egeland also met with some of the deported migrants yesterday.

Egeland pointed out that 22 million people in Afghanistan are in need of basic assistance, but the international community has largely ignored the crisis in the country.

Recently, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that over 1.2 million Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan from Iran in 2024. The organization also added that 67% of these migrants were forcibly deported.

Iran has increased the detention and forced deportation of Afghan migrants this year, and its officials have stated that they plan to deport two million Afghan migrants by the end of the year.

The ongoing deportation of Afghan migrants highlights the pressing humanitarian crisis in both Afghanistan and the region. As more people are forced to return to a country struggling with widespread poverty and conflict, the international community must act to provide greater support for both the displaced and those left behind.

The situation also underscores the need for long-term solutions to migration and refugee crises, as well as the importance of global cooperation in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.