What Is Happening in Afghanistan?

Over the last several months, you have probably seen a lot of news focusing on what is happening in Afghanistan. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden announced that the United States would be pulling all military troops out of Afghanistan by August 31st, thus ending the 20-year Afghanistan War. 

On August 15th, however, the Taliban—an Islamist fundamentalist group—took over the capital city of Kabul and assumed control of most of the country. The Taliban had previously been ousted by U.S.-led forces 20 years ago at the beginning of the Afghanistan War. 

As the U.S. pulled personnel out, thousands of Afghans sought to escape by going to the airport in an effort to get on board any flight leaving Kabul. This led to many deaths as a suicide bomber attacked the airport on August 26th, killing hundreds of Afghan citizens and 13 U.S. service members. Other Afghans also died while attempting to escape the country by clinging to planes taking off.

Now that Afghanistan has been taken over by the Taliban, the group has explained that they are taking a gentler approach to ruling compared to their past in an effort to gain legitimacy from outside powers. However, reports from within Afghanistan claim that the Taliban has begun to enforce its strict interpretation of Sharia law, which is Islam’s legal system.

This interpretation is especially worrisome for groups like women and children, religious minorities, and those with ties to America and other western countries. There have already been reports of restrictions against universally recognized human rights, like only males being allowed to work or attend school, religious minorities being targeted and beaten, forced marriages between women and Taliban fighters, and even public executions.

Because of this newly-instated code of law, Taliban control has left many Afghans worried for their lives and searching for a way out of their home country. Many of these citizens have already been internally displaced. With many neighboring countries closing their borders, Afghans are seeking asylum in the United States and Europe. However, getting out of Afghanistan is not easy and these refugees need help from the outside.

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including Afghan refugees currently in need. Together with our partner agencies, we are working on providing assistance to Afghan refugees, as well as calling on governments around the world to provide immediate support to all Afghans in need of protection. Find out how you can make a difference and help Afghan refugees today!

About the International Catholic Migration Commission

The International Catholic Migration Commission is a nonprofit organization that protects, serves, and advocates for displaced people throughout the world. We help refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, and migrants of all faiths, races, and ethnicities forge lives in safety and dignity.

With support from people like you, ICMC delivers humanitarian aid and social development, protects vulnerable migrants, contributes to refugee resettlement efforts, advocates before governments, and partners with civic leaders. We seek a sustainable solution to dangerous migration and refugee crises.

Find out more by visiting our website.