On International Women’s Day, a group of Afghan women gathered in the Pakistani capital, not to celebrate, but to protest. Holding banners and chanting slogans, they demanded that the world acknowledge the grim reality they face: a life under the Taliban, stripped of basic rights, and now, the looming threat of deportation from Pakistan.
For these women, March 8 is not just a symbolic day—it is a desperate plea for survival.
Fleeing Afghanistan, Facing Uncertainty in Pakistan
Parmina Askari, a young athlete, left Afghanistan a year ago when the Taliban banned women from education, work, and sports.
“I was not allowed to play, study, or do sports, so I left and came to Pakistan,” she said. “But even here, I face many problems, from visa issues to uncertainty about my future. Afghanistan is no longer a place for women. They do not recognize us as human beings.”
Parmina’s voice trembled as she spoke about being separated from her family. “Being away from them is my biggest problem,” she added. “Renewing my visa every month is another struggle.” Her question to the world was simple yet piercing: “When will they pay attention to Afghan women? How long will we live without fate?”
Milha Afzali shared a similar story. When the Taliban took over, she lost everything—her right to study, work, and exist freely.
“Women are deprived of human rights in Afghanistan,” she stated firmly. “That is why I left. But in Pakistan, we live in fear of forced deportation. The Pakistani government is sending Afghans back to Afghanistan, which is our biggest nightmare.”
For Milha and countless others, returning means a return to oppression. “We ask the world not to forget Afghan women,” she pleaded.
One woman, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the suffocating restrictions imposed by the Taliban. “The Taliban have imprisoned women’s lives, forcing us to flee,” she said. “Now, we face the threat of deportation in Pakistan. If we are sent back, it means beatings, imprisonment—perhaps worse.”
She echoed a sentiment shared by many Afghan women:
The Taliban do not see women as human beings. They do not consider us part of society.
A New Crisis: Pakistan’s Deportation Deadline
Just one day before International Women’s Day, Pakistan’s government issued a chilling ultimatum: all undocumented Afghans and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders must leave by March 31 or face deportation. The announcement, part of Islamabad’s “Illegal Foreigners Return Program” (IFRP), has intensified fear among Afghan refugees, especially women.
Since November 2023, Pakistan has already expelled thousands of Afghans, citing security concerns. Human rights organizations have condemned the move, warning that Afghan women deported back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan face grave dangers, including forced marriages, imprisonment, and even death.
A Cry for Global Action
Afghan women in Pakistan are trapped between two harsh realities—one where they are denied basic freedoms, and another where they are unwelcome and at risk of expulsion. On International Women’s Day, their protest was not just about their own struggles but a call for global action.
“We ask the world to open its eyes,” Parmina said. “Recognize what is happening in Afghanistan. End gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Do not let Afghan women disappear from history.”
As the sun set on their protest in Islamabad, their voices echoed into the evening air—voices of resilience, defiance, and a hope that the world will finally listen.
