Afghan Christian families seeking refuge in hostile Pakistan
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – The International Christian Concern (ICC) aid organization has found 60 Christian families that escaped Afghanistan to seek refuge in next-door Pakistan, even though Pakistan has a notoriously bad record on its treatment of Christians. Indeed, ICC found at least three of these families have returned to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan after suffering the dreadful conditions for refugees in Pakistan.
Afghanistan now ranks number 9th (from number one last year) on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. Pakistan ranks higher, at number seven: “Christians in Pakistan are considered second-class citizens and face discrimination in every aspect of life,” Open Doors says in a website statement.
In its report, ICC noted Afghan Christians trying to flee the terror of Taliban rule have few options. “Neighboring Pakistan had potential exit routes, but the Pakistani government has clamped down on refugees wishing to enter the country,” ICC said. Moreover, Pakistan is ill-equipped to receive the flood of refugees coming from Afghanistan after the Taliban took over in August 2021.
“Once Afghan Christians step foot in Pakistan, however, their plight and journey are far from over,” ICC said in its reports. “ICC found 60 Christian families that had fled Afghanistan for Pakistan. At least three decided to return to Afghanistan after months of turmoil as refugees in Pakistan.”
In a website statement about the conditions for Christians in Afghanistan, the same conditions that families returning home from Pakistan will face, Open Doors USA says: “More than a year after the Taliban’s takeover, any promises they made about recognizing freedoms have proved to be false. Following Jesus remains a death sentence, if discovered.” ICC notes the fact that Afghan Christians prefer trying to survive under Taliban rule back home is a reflection of the “dreadful state of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.”
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