A court in Nairobi has allowed Kenyan police to detain Abdul Zahir Qadir, a former Afghan lawmaker and prominent political figure, following a formal extradition request from the United States.

Qadir, also known as Haji Abdul Zahir, was arrested at a hotel in Nairobi on April 15 by Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). According to court documents, he is wanted in the United States on multiple charges, including narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had filed a criminal complaint against Qadir with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on March 25, 2025. The complaint led to an official diplomatic note submitted by the U.S. government, requesting Kenya to authorize Qadir’s extradition.

On Monday, Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi granted the application by Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions to hold Qadir in custody while extradition proceedings move forward. The court emphasized that the available information and circumstances justified endorsing the U.S. arrest warrant and the suspect’s return to face charges.

The prosecution stated that Qadir entered Kenya from Kabul on April 14 aboard a Qatar Airways flight and has no fixed residence in the country. Authorities expressed concern that releasing him could pose a significant flight risk and hinder efforts to locate other individuals potentially connected to the case.

Abdul Zahir Qadir, born in 1973 in Nangarhar province, is the son of the late Abdul Qadir, a senior commander in the United Islamic Front and former Vice President of the Afghan Transitional Administration, who was assassinated in 2002. A former general in Afghanistan’s border forces and a member of the Wolesi Jirga, Qadir led the “Peace Karwan” movement and served as First Deputy Speaker of Parliament in 2012.

Qadir’s political career has been marked by his strong opposition to government policies during President Hamid Karzai’s administration. Over the years, he has faced multiple allegations, including accusations of drug trafficking and abuse of authority—claims he has repeatedly denied, describing them as politically motivated attempts to discredit him.

The court in Nairobi is expected to begin formal extradition proceedings in the coming days. Meanwhile, Qadir remains in police custody. Neither the Afghan Embassy in Kenya nor representatives of Qadir’s legal team have issued a public statement regarding the arrest.

This developing case is likely to attract significant attention both within Afghanistan and abroad, given Qadir’s political background and the seriousness of the charges brought against him by U.S. authorities.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has demanded the immediate release of journalist Sayed Rashid Kashifi, detained by intelligence forces in Kabul.

The statement also revealed that Taliban intelligence had confiscated Kashifi’s mobile phone nearly a month prior to his arrest, indicating that he may have been under surveillance for some time.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center emphasized that at least nine journalists and media workers are currently detained by the Taliban, highlighting a continuing pattern of repression against media professionals.

The ongoing suppression of journalists by the Taliban not only threatens the safety of individual reporters but also undermines the public’s access to truthful and timely information. International human rights groups and press freedom advocates continue to call for urgent action and accountability.

Sabera recounted how Pakistani authorities forced her family out without warning. “Because of these heartless people, I had to leave Pakistan with my newborn,” she said, referring to the police who evicted them from their home and sent them toward the border. Her husband, the family’s sole breadwinner, had made a living scavenging for recyclables—a meager but vital source of income.

That fragile livelihood was destroyed overnight. “My husband collected old items. Now we have nothing,” Sabera said, lamenting the fact that they were unable to bring even the little they had. Their belongings, and any sense of stability, were left behind in Pakistan. Now, the family faces extreme hardship with no financial means or shelter.

Sabera’s children, all of whom are still very young, remain by her side in uncertainty. “I have nowhere to go,” she says with a voice heavy with fear and exhaustion. Though she dreams of returning to her native Baghlan province, the journey seems nearly impossible for a mother burdened with an infant and no resources.

Her situation reflects a broader humanitarian crisis. Between September 2023 and February 2025, more than 844,499 Afghans were expelled from Pakistan, with approximately 80% being women and children. Since April 1, 2025, over 44,900 people—the majority children—have returned through Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings. Most arrive with nothing but the clothes they wear, returning to a country where two-thirds of the population relies on humanitarian aid.

The UNFPA has reported that at least 17 women have given birth in border clinics since the second phase of deportations began—underscoring the acute medical needs on the ground. Aid agencies warn that without urgent funding, millions will lose access to health services. Child malnutrition and mortality could soar dramatically, given the scale of need and lack of infrastructure.

Additionally, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with UN Women, UNHCR, and other partners, is actively delivering humanitarian aid. This includes cash grants, hygiene kits, medical check-ups, food packages, and vaccinations for children—essential services to stabilize lives thrown into turmoil.

Sabera’s story is not an isolated tragedy—it is a mirror reflecting the suffering of hundreds of thousands. Her plea for help echoes the needs of many Afghan women and children cast into uncertainty by sudden deportation. Addressing this crisis requires sustained humanitarian support and international attention.

Without concrete policy shifts and adequate funding, families like Sabera’s may face not just a loss of home, but a loss of hope. It is now the responsibility of the international community to respond with compassion, urgency, and resolve.

Afghan refugees in the U.S. have been given a seven-day notice to leave, according to the Afghan Evac president.

According to VanDiver, a number of Afghan refugees in the United States have already received official notices from the government ordering them to depart.

He has urged Afghan refugees not to leave the country without first consulting with their legal counsel.

U.S. media reported on Thursday, April 17, that some Afghan refugees received an email from the Department of Homeland Security giving them a one-week deadline to leave the country. The email warned that failure to comply would lead to federal arrest.

This development follows earlier reports by U.S. media quoting Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, who confirmed that the Trump administration has revoked Temporary Protected Status for 14,600 Afghan nationals in the United States.

McLaughlin stated that Kristi Noem, the new Secretary of Homeland Security, has determined that the current conditions in Afghanistan no longer meet the criteria for granting protected status.

The U.S. TPS program is intended for individuals from countries experiencing natural disasters, armed conflict, or extraordinary circumstances. Termination of this status could place thousands at risk of removal, despite ongoing instability in their home country.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post has reported that the order to deport Afghan migrants has been issued at an inappropriate time, criticizing the decision. The newspaper emphasizes that this policy comes when Afghanistan is still facing severe instability and humanitarian challenges.

The report further highlights that deporting Afghan migrants, many of whom have fled violence and insecurity, could exacerbate the already dire situation in the country. Critics argue that such a decision disregards the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the need for continued international support for those affected.

Legal and humanitarian organizations are calling on the U.S. government to reconsider the decision, urging renewed assessments of conditions in Afghanistan and the reestablishment of protected legal pathways for vulnerable individuals.