live in hiding or maintain a low profile due
to the unfriendly environment for them
in transit, and the Taliban's significant
influence in Pakistan. One HRD during the
interview described the risk in Islamabad
as such: “Every second, we are concerned
when (local) police come behind our
doors.”46 Many HRDs remain at risk of
the Taliban’s reprisal in Pakistan due the
regime’s influence in this country. An
activist cited alarming incidents, including
the assassination of an Afghan journalist
in Islamabad and the kidnapping and
murder of six former members of the
Afghan security force. These events have
raised significant concerns among HRDs
in both Pakistan and Iran.
And yet, there is little to no legal and
organisational support for HRDs in transit
countries. Most interviewees in Iran and
Pakistan reported receiving very limited
assistance from local and international
human rights organisations. They also
mentioned facing corruption and extortion
from local institutions, which target
Afghanistan nationals in general and its
HRDs in particular. For example, one HRD,
who wished to remain anonymous, shared
his experience as such: “I was referred to a
local CSO in Islamabad, partnered with the
International Organization for Migration
(IOM) and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to
support Afghan refugees in Pakistan. This
local CSO provided me with a monthly 100
USD for three months. They paid me for
the first month but asked me to sign for
the entire three-month payment and told
me to wait for their message for the next
monthly payment. I was happy because
this could help me financially. However,
one and a half months passed from that
moment. I have not heard back from them
about the next payment. I contacted them
several times, but they did not reply to me
and ultimately blocked my number and
46
Anonymous, “An Afghan Journalist in Pakistan,” In an Interview with the Author, April 28, 2024.
my email address alike, even though they
had my signature for the three-month
payment.”47
Meanwhile, the space for civic rights
remains highly precarious in these
countries, where Afghanistan’s HRDs
struggle to raise their voices through
public protests or to continue their human
rights work. An Afghanistan’s WHRDs
based in Iran, who preferred to remain
anonymous, said, “Regardless of being
online or offline, both spaces are closed
for our human rights work, preventing us
from taking to the streets or advocating
on social media.”48 She further added,
“Threats against our family members
back in Afghanistan, forces us to give up
to our efforts, especially amid a growing
lack of political and financial support from
the international community.”49 While
expressing her frustration, she stated that
the ongoing state of limbo gives them
the feeling of “being forgotten and often
betrayed.”50
The graph below shows the types and
severity of challenges faced by Afghanistan’s
HRDs based in Iran and Pakistan. Interview
findings in this regard demonstrate
distinct problems, highlighting both
similarities and differences. For example,
in Pakistan, economic constraints and
mental health concerns remain as the
most severe problems. On the other hand,
Afghanistan’s HRDs based in Iran face
comparatively more difficulties with visa
extensions, presenting a lack of stable legal
status, forcing many Afghanistan nationals,
including Afghanistan’s HRDs, to either
risk illegal stay or face deportation. Also,
the civic space remains highly precarious,
with limited local support for Afghanistan’s
47
Anonymous, “Afghan Human Rights Defender in Pakistan,” In an Interview with the Author, May
10, 2024.
Anonymous, “Afghan Women Activist in
48
Iran,” In an Interview with the Author, May 15, 2024.
Anonymous, “Afghan Women Activist in
49
Iran,” In an Interview with the Author, May 15, 2024.
Ibid.
50
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