The International Situation of Afghan Asylum-Seekers

The pullout of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government has generated a wave of Afghan people fleeing incoming Taliban rule. With the Taliban committed to governing according to fundamentalist interpretations of Islamic law, concerns are particularly heightened for women, ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTQ+ people, journalists, and those who supported the fight against the Taliban. Abroad, governments have debated whether and to what degree to accept asylum-seekers, with many seeking to either offshore asylum processing or contain refugees to the immediate region of southwest and Central Asia. For refugees who do make it out, the intensification of anti-immigrant sentiment across the world’s regions in recent years—including the increasing political power of far-right nativist movements—has created new threats for asylum-seekers in their destination countries.

While politicians and analysts around the world bicker over responsibility and blame, Afghans scramble to exit before the full weight of the new Taliban regime comes down. Here is a collection of reporting on the conditions in Afghanistan for those needing refuge, which countries are offering haven, and reactions from the Afghan diaspora.

Afghanistan Evacuations

“Thousands Of Afghans With Travel Documents Stranded In Kabul As Taliban Fighters Turn Them Away” (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | August 2021)

“Factbox: Evacuations from Afghanistan by country” (Reuters | August 19, 2021)

“Afghanistan: President Ashraf Ghani in UAE on ‘humanitarian grounds‘” (Middle East Eye | August 2021)

Vulnerable Communities in Afghanistan

“For Afghan Women, Taliban Stir Fears of Return to a Repressive Past” (The New York Times | August 2021)

“Afghanistan’s ethnic minorities fear a repeat of past atrocities” (The New York Times | August 2021)

“Afghanistan: Taliban responsible for brutal massacre of Hazara men – new investigation” (BBC News | August 2021)

“Men from Afghanistan’s secret gay community say they are living through a ‘nightmare’ and fear that the Taliban will execute them at any moment” (Business Insider | August 2021)

Persecution of journalists in Afghanistan (Committee to Protect Journalists)

International Responses

UNHCR non-return advisory on Afghanistan (UN Refugee Agency | August 2021)

“Afghanistan refugees: how many are being evacuated and where will they go?” (The Guardian | August 2021)

“Where does the world stand on Afghan refugees?” (Al Jazeera | August 2021)

“Europe’s contentious deportations of Afghans grind to a halt as Taliban surges” (The Washington Post | August 2021)

“Turmoil In Afghanistan Spills Into Central Asia” (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | August 2021)

“Central Asia scrambles for clear response as Afghanistan crisis spills over” (Eurasianet | August 2021)

Albania

“Albania ready to temporarily house Afghan refugees, PM Rama says” (Reuters | August 2021)

“Balkan countries affirm US alliance by accepting Afghan refugees” (POLITICO | August 2021)

Austria

“Six EU nations want migrants forced back to Afghanistan” (Associated Press | August 2021)

Belgium

“Six EU nations want migrants forced back to Afghanistan” (Associated Press | August 2021)

Canada

“Canada evacuates another 106 Afghans as military navigates a ‘tenuous, chaotic’ situation in Kabul” (CBC News | August 2021)

“As Canada Awaits a New Group of Refugees, Questions Loom” (The New York Times | August 2021)

Colombia

“Bogotá to offer 4,000 Afghan refugees temporary transit asylum” (The City Paper | August 2021)

Denmark

“Denmark to evacuate Afghans who worked for Kabul embassy” (Associated Press | August 2021)

“Six EU nations want migrants forced back to Afghanistan” (Associated Press | August 2021)

France

“Afghanistan: Macron’s comments on ‘irregular’ migration draw ire” (Al Jazeera | August 2021)

Germany

“Six EU nations want migrants forced back to Afghanistan” (Associated Press | August 2021)

Greece

“Afghanistan: Greece floats possibility of deporting asylum seekers to Turkey” (Middle East Eye | August 2021)

“Six EU nations want migrants forced back to Afghanistan” (Associated Press | August 2021)

India

“India says doors open to Afghan’s Sikh and Hindu minorities” (Reuters | August 2021)

Afghan refugees in India worried about family back home (Agence France-Presse video | August 2021)

“Afghan Refugees In India Fret Over The News Back Home, And Their Own Legal Status” (NPR | August 2021)

Indonesia

“Afghan refugees in Indonesia call for expedited resettlement” (Reuters | August 2021)

Iran

“Reformists Say Iran Must Welcome Afghan Refugees” (Iran International | August 2021)

“Tehran Prepares For Refugee Influx As Afghans In Iran Protest” (Iran International | August 2021)

Afghan refugees reach Iran as violence escalates (UNHCR press release | August 2021)

Kazakhstan

“Kazakhstan freezes apparent Afghan refugee plans amid grumbling” (Eurasianet | August 2021)

Kosovo

“Balkan countries affirm US alliance by accepting Afghan refugees” (POLITICO | August 2021)

Mexico

“Planeload of fleeing Afghans arrive in Mexico, including journalists” (Reuters | September 2021)

The Netherlands

“Six EU nations want migrants forced bak to Afghanistan” (Associated Press | August 2021)

North Macedonia

“Balkan countries affirm US alliance by accepting Afghan refugees” (POLITICO | August 2021)

Tajikistan

“Tajikistan can’t afford to take in Afghan refugees without help -police chief” (Reuters | September 2021)

Turkey

“Nearly 800 irregular migrants held across Turkey” (Hurriyet News Daily | August 2021)

“Afghanistan: Erdogan to work with Pakistan to stop influx of Afghan refugees” (Middle East Eye | August 2021)

“Turkey Steps Up Efforts to Avert Afghan Refugee Exodus” (Voice of America | August 2021)

“A perilous journey and an uncertain future: The plight of Afghan refugees in Turkey” (The Washington Post | August 2021)

Uganda

“Uganda to take 2,000 Afghan refugees at U.S. request” (Reuters | August 2021)

United Arab Emirates

Afghans in UAE fear nightmare of Taliban rule (Agence France-Presse video | August 2021)

United Kingdom

“UK announces plan to resettle 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan” (Al Jazeera | August 2021)

Afghan citizens’ resettlement scheme (UK Home Office | August 2021)

United States

“Americans prepare to welcome thousands of Afghan refugees, even as political rhetoric heats up” (The Washington Post | August 2021)

Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans (U.S. Department of State)

Uzbekistan

“Afghanistan Evacuees Arrive In Tajikistan, Uzbekistan” (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | August 2021)

Last updated: September 2, 2021