By Editor Foreign Affairs
The Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan has condemned in strongest terms the move of an American Marine officer who allegedly forcibly took the only survivor of an Afghan family martyred in US bombardment in Afghanistan from her relatives in Virginia and registering her as his own family member.
“ According to information from reliable sources, a Marine officer Joshua Mast, has forcibly taken the only remaining child of a family martyred in their bombardment in Afghanistan from her relatives in Virginia and registered her as his own family member. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this case as worrying, far from human dignity and an inhumane act, and will seriously pursue this issue with American authorities so that the said child is returned to her relatives,” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan stated on Sunday.
In a statement issued to media on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the US and its allies responsible for keeping the Afghan refugees in conditions not suitable for the human life to live in.
“ It is worth mentioning that hundreds of thousands of Afghans, including dozens of children, who were inappropriately taken out of the country by the US and its allies, are now kept in various camps in a state of legal limbo and deprived of basic human rights,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan called on the said countries to ensure the human and legal rights of Afghan refugees in line with international migration laws and through consular services.
Tens of thousands of Afghans have fled country following US withdrawal from Afghanistan. It is on the record that before taking hold of Afghanistan, Taliban had advised the public not to panic. However, thousands of Afghan families had considered it a lifetime opportunity to flee to the US and the Western countries along with the US-led International forces.
Contrary to their expectations, the Afghan families who have been resettled in the United States since US withdrawal forces from Afghanistan last August, are still facing trouble in adjusting to life in a new country.
“ Greed is curse indeed. Let me admit, we had no threats from Taliban. However, we took it as lifetime opportunity. Frankly speaking, every citizen in the world wants to settle in the USA. I had a similar dream. The US withdrawal had given us opportunity to transform my dream into reality. Sadly, life has become miserable here in camps. Wish we had not moved here,” an Afghan national who had served as translator for the US army told this newspaper.
“Greed is curse. Most of the Afghan families living in camp villages in California, are facing numerous issues including searching for work, studying English, researching long-term immigration pathways and memorizing local bus routes,” she added.
The Islamabad Telegraph has learnt that for a number of Afghan families these difficulties are compounded by trauma from years of conflict, along with anxieties over loved ones still in Afghanistan. But the prospects for reunion are daunting:
According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, of nearly 50,000 Afghans who have applied for humanitarian parole since July 2021, 369 have been accepted and about 8,000 rejected, with the rest still awaiting a response as of July 28.
Majority of the Afghan families living in temporary residences have complained of inhuman behavior of US authorities. The Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan has also raised questions about bad conditions in which Afghan refugees are living in the USA.
“ It is worth mentioning that hundreds of thousands of Afghans, including dozens of children, who were inappropriately taken out of the country by the US and its allies, are now kept in various camps in a state of legal limbo and deprived of basic human rights,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.