Afghan Women Stranded In Pakistan Appeal To U.S. For Urgent Action

A group of Afghan women sitting under a tent in Islamabad, engaging in discussions about their rights and future. — fghan women gathered under a tent in Islamabad, Pakistan, on August 13, 2022, discussing their situation and future actions.

**ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – ** A group of Afghan women, formerly engaged in sectors such as education, healthcare, media, and civil society, has issued an urgent plea to senior U.S. officials, seeking intervention in their stalled resettlement process under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). In an open letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and First Lady Melania Trump, the women described their precarious situation in Pakistan, where they have been awaiting relocation for over three years.

According to the letter, these women were forced to flee Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power, fearing persecution due to their alignment with democratic values and human rights advocacy. After being formally referred to the USRAP, they relocated to Pakistan as part of the program’s final processing stage. Despite undergoing security screenings, medical examinations, and cultural orientation, they remain in limbo with no clear timeline for resettlement.

Mounting Psychological and Legal Struggles

The signatories highlighted the severe psychological toll of prolonged uncertainty, emphasizing that many are mothers raising children in unsafe conditions. Expired residency documents have left them vulnerable to arrest and deportation, further exacerbating their distress.

“Our children, once full of promise, have been denied access to education and a brighter future,” the letter states. “Fear of detention confines us to our homes, stripping us of even the most basic freedoms.”

Pakistan has intensified its deportation of Afghan refugees in recent months, fueling fears that those forcibly returned to Afghanistan face potential imprisonment, torture, or worse. The women argue that their past collaboration with U.S.-backed initiatives makes returning home an existential threat.

U.S. Lawmakers Urge Resumption of Afghan Refugee Resettlement Program

A Call for Immediate U.S. Intervention

The letter urges the Trump administration to take swift action by:

Modifying the USRAP suspension to create exemptions for Afghan allies.
Prioritizing the relocation of Priority 1 (P1) and Priority 2 (P2) applicants currently stranded in Pakistan.
Engaging diplomatically with Pakistani authorities to prevent the arrest and deportation of Afghan refugees awaiting U.S. resettlement.

Afghan prosecutor Maria Safi sitting at a table during a conference in Islamabad, addressing the forced departure of Afghan immigrants. — Afghan prosecutor Maria Safi speaks at a conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, urging the Pakistani government to halt the expulsion of Afghan refugees.

The appeal underscores the signatories’ unwavering trust in the United States and its commitment to humanitarian values. “This is not merely a request for resettlement—it is a plea for survival,” they wrote, warning that their suffering deepens with each passing day.

Afghan Women Activists Seek Support from First Lady Melania Trump

The U.S. government has yet to issue an official response to the letter, but advocacy groups continue to push for policy adjustments to protect vulnerable Afghan refugees caught in bureaucratic limbo.