Forced Evacuation
Hollywood actor and rights advocate Angelina Jolie expressed profound sorrow at Pakistan’s forced evacuation of over a million Afghan refugees to Afghanistan, compelling them to abandon properties and assets built over decades.
The Oscar winner, known for her humanitarian efforts, reflected on Pakistan’s historical role in supporting Afghan refugee families and shared images depicting families fleeing with meager belongings.
Jolie voiced her dismay over the abrupt expulsion of refugees, emphasizing the dire realities they face in today’s Afghanistan. She highlighted the regression in women’s rights, the denial of education, the imprisonment of many, and the deepening humanitarian crisis.
Calling it a global backslide in human rights, Jolie characterized the situation as a new tragedy in Afghanistan’s enduring history of war, conflict, and displacement spanning over four decades.
The acclaimed actress expressed concern that Afghan refugees, after promises of a better future, now face abandonment by the international community. Jolie’s critique comes at a time when the ongoing repatriation mission has seen over 85,000 Afghan nationals crossing the Chaman border into Afghanistan.
Daily returns are witnessed at the Torkham and Chaman borders, with 2,957 illegal Afghan refugees leaving Pakistan on November 11 alone. This group comprised 716 men, 691 women, and 1,550 children, constituting 678 families repatriated in 278 vehicles.
Jolie’s advocacy underscores the urgency of addressing the plight of Afghan refugees, shedding light on their struggles amid a changing geopolitical landscape. Her powerful message resonates as a call for global attention and action to protect the rights and well-being of those affected by forced displacement.
