Monday, August 31, 2015

Afghan airfields built for war seen as economic hubs - The Associated Press

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — It is a striking vision for a country torn to pieces by war and jihadi insurrection: a series of airports, built by NATO to fight the Taliban, are being handed over to the Afghan government in a civil aviation upgrade that optimists hope will fuel not only regional trade but even tourism.

The eight airfields, worth an estimated $2 billion, are scattered around a landlocked and mountainous land whose lack of rail transport or decent roads makes almost every intercity journey a perilous adventure — even without factoring in attacks from Taliban militants.

Ex-lawmaker Mohammad Daud Sultanzoy, who is overseeing the project for the government, said the airfields — self-contained cities that housed thousands of foreign troops who are now pulling out — will amount to a latter-day "Silk Road" that "will connect Afghanistan internally and to South Asia and Central Asia, and beyond."

he billions of people living in Asia and the Middle East "can constitute a huge number of tourists and related other activities: cargo, passenger and export/import," Sultanzoy said.

Pessimists will have little trouble imagining the Taliban trying to shoot down planes as they land, but officials say the militants do not currently have that ability, making air travel a reasonable and safe option.

U.S. Maj. Gen. Todd Semonite, who oversees $5 billion in funding to Afghanistan's security sector, said the decision to transfer rather than close the airfields was made in conjunction with President Ashraf Ghani's government after he took power last year, in the belief they could help "jump start the economy."

Military teams are upgrading them ahead of an international roadshow organized by the Afghan and U.S. governments due to be held in Dubai next month. - Read More at the militarytimes

Afghan airfields built for war seen as economic hubs



د افغانستان او آلمان د دوستۍ سلمه کلیزه ‎په ارګ کې ولمانځل شوه


Read More: 

د افغانستان او آلمان د دوستۍ سلمه کلیزه د جمهور رئیس غني په حضور کې ولمانځل شوه 
جمهور ریس غني د المان د بهرنیو چارو وزیر سره وکتل 

از صدمین سالگرد دوستی افغانستان و آلمان با حضور رئیس جمهور غنی، تجلیل بعمل آمد 

د افغانستان او آلمان د دوستۍ سلمه کلیزه ‎په ارګ کې ولمانځل شوه

Afghanistan: Aid Donors Should Stress Accountability - HRW

Government Commitment to Basic Protections, Women’s Rights Essential
(New York) – Afghanistan’s foreign donors should press the government to address the country’s persistent human rights problems at a major international meeting of senior officials, Human Rights Watch said today in letters to representatives of a dozen donor countries. Delegations from more than a dozen countries will gather in Kabul on September 5, 2015, for the Senior Officials Meeting to discuss humanitarian and security commitments to the country. The meeting is a follow-up to the December 2014 London Conference and the 2012 Tokyo Conference.

“Afghan officials and foreign donors need to put human rights front-and-center in all discussions of ongoing and future support for the Afghan government,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “They should recognize that human rights gains since 2001 remain extremely fragile and in some areas have reversed, putting at risk the rights of all Afghans, particularly women and girls.”

Despite Afghanistan’s important improvements in human rights, many serious abuses persist. The Afghan government and its international donors should strengthen their support for the protection and promotion of human rights in Afghanistan through continued emphasis on the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework (the “Tokyo Framework”), Human Rights Watch said. - Read More at HRW  -  Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Aid Donors Should Stress Accountability


Rice Condemns Pakistan-Based Militant Attacks in Afghanistan - WSJ

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice on Sunday told top civilian and military leaders in Islamabad that attacks in neighboring Afghanistan by Pakistan-based militants were “absolutely unacceptable,” according to a senior American official.

During a one-day stop in Pakistan after a visit to China, Ms. Rice also delivered an invitation for Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington in October.

Ms. Rice pressed Pakistan to do more to prevent terrorists from using its territory as a base for attacks on its neighboring states and to improve ties with India and Afghanistan. Islamabad accuses both countries of sponsoring anti-Pakistan militants.

“In Islamabad today, discussed how to deepen coop. to tackle shared priorities. Encouraged Pakistan to advance regional peace & stability,” a post on Ms. Rice’s Twitter account said on Sunday. She met Mr. Sharif and the country’s army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif.

Washington has warned Pakistan that it stands to lose $300 million in U.S. military aid if it doesn’t crack down harder on the Haqqani network, American officials said. U.S. officials have described the Haqqani network as closely tied to Pakistan’s military intelligence agency.

A statement from Mr. Sharif’s office said: “The United States is an important partner of Pakistan in all areas especially the economy, defense and counterterrorism.”

The Afghan government has lashed out at Pakistan over a series of deadly bombings in Kabul in recent weeks that have killed dozens of people—including three Americans—and which the Afghan government blames on the Haqqani network, a jihadist group it says is based in Pakistan.

“We share the concern of the Afghan government. This is absolutely unacceptable,” said the American official. Ms. Rice told Pakistani leaders that “terrorist and militant attacks have developed into a key point of regional friction. Addressing this challenge will be imperative for Pakistan’s relations with its neighbors and with Washington,” the official said, though she said U.S.-Pakistani relations were “very good.”

Analysts believe the U.S. wants Islamabad to go after the leadership of the Haqqani network, which Washington says operates freely in Pakistan. The head of the Haqqani network was made deputy leader of the Taliban at a meeting late last month in the western Pakistani city of Quetta, after confirmation of the death of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, according to the Taliban.

Pakistan denies that leaders of the Taliban or Haqqani network are based in the country, though Islamabad admits they may visit the country. Critics allege Pakistan uses these groups as its proxies in Afghanistan. 

A tweet from the official Twitter account of a Pakistan military spokesman said that during the meeting between Ms. Rice and Gen. Raheel, “Both dignitaries also recognized the continued need for close coordination for ensuring peace & stability in [Afghanistan] and the region.”- Read More at WSJ

Rice Condemns Pakistan-Based Militant Attacks in Afghanistan

Obama invites Pakistan's PM to White House as Susan Rice visits Islamabad

President Obama’s national security adviser,Susan Rice, warned Pakistani political and military leaders on Sunday that recent attacks in Afghanistan by militants based in the country threaten regional security, an official said.

Rice also delivered an invitation from Obama for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit the US in October, the US National Security Council said.

The meetings came at a tense time for Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan and arch-rival India, along with uncertainty over whether the US will release $300m in military aid to Pakistan.

Media reports have suggested the money could be held back if the US determines Pakistan is not doing enough to combat the Haqqani network, accused of some of the deadliest attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan.

A senior US official who briefed reporters in Islamabad said Rice brought up this month’s rash of attacks that killed more than 50 people in the Afghan capital as an example of how militants based in Pakistan continue to destabilise much of south Asia.

“We think a series of recent deadly attacks in Kabul were perpetrated by the Haqqani network,” the official said. “This is absolutely unacceptable.”

In 2011, the Haqqani network was described as a “veritable arm” of the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency – Pakistan’s powerful military spy wing – by the then chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Pakistan denies supporting the Haqqani network, an Islamist movement loosely allied with both the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida. - Read More at the Guardian

Obama invites Pakistan's PM to White House as Susan Rice visits Islamabad

Susan Rice, Obama's Security Adviser, Urges Pakistan to Do More Against Militants - nytimes

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — President Obama’s national security adviser,Susan E. Rice, urged Pakistani civilian and military leaders on Sunday to do more to stop militants from using Pakistani territory to stage attacks in neighboring countries.

In a daylong visit to the capital, Islamabad, Ms. Rice met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Gen. Raheel Sharif, the army chief, and other senior government officials. Ms. Rice also formally extended an invitation from President Obama to Mr. Sharif to visit Washington in October.

The Haqqani network, the militant faction that United States officials say is responsible for the recent increase in violence and suicide attacks in the Afghan capital, Kabul, figured prominently in the talks. American officials expressed concerns about possible future attacks inside Afghanistan and pressed the Pakistanis to take specific measures to avert them.

Pakistani officials maintain that they have wrested North Waziristan, the tribal region bordering Afghanistan that had long been a redoubt of local and foreign militants, from the control of the Taliban. The military began an offensive in North Waziristan last year and is involved in a clearingoperation in Shawal Valley, the last area in the region where ground troops had not moved in.

The United States says that not enough has been done to rein in the Haqqani network, despite Pakistan’s insistence to the contrary.A series of bombings in Afghanistan in August killed at least three Americans and many more Afghan civilians.

A senior American official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was a diplomatic matter, said that Ms. Rice noted during Sunday’s meetings that militant attacks have developed into a main point of regional friction. “Addressing this challenge will be imperative for Pakistan’s relations with its neighbors and with Washington,” the official said, “especially given the recent upsurge in violence in Kabul and the Taliban’s bloody campaign this fighting season in Afghanistan.” - Read More at NYT

Susan Rice, Obama's Security Adviser, Urges Pakistan to Do More Against Militants

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Reaktion auf Qaida-Attacken: USA erwogen Atomschlag nach 9/11 - Der Spiegel

Die Anschläge vom 11. September 2001 begründeten den US-geführten Krieg gegen den Terror. Nach SPIEGEL-Informationen wurden damals in Washington alle denkbaren Szenarien durchgespielt - auch der Einsatz von Nuklearwaffen.

Die US-Administration um Präsident George W. Bush zog nach den Attacken auf das World Trade Center in New York und das Pentagon in Washington am 11. September 2001 offenbar auch einen Atomschlag gegen Afghanistan in Betracht. Das sagte der ehemalige außenpolitische Berater von Kanzler Gerhard Schröder, Michael Steiner, der in einem SPIEGEL-Gespräch erstmals von seinen geheimen Unterredungen mit der US-Regierung berichtete. (Lesen Sie das ganze Gespräch im neuen SPIEGEL.)

"Die Papiere waren geschrieben", sagte Steiner auf die Frage, ob die USA auch an den Einsatz von Nuklearwaffen dachten, und fügte hinzu: "Sie hatten wirklich alle Möglichkeiten durchgespielt." Schröder und ihn habe nach den Terrorattacken die Sorge umgetrieben, die USA würden "im ersten Schock überreagieren", zumal sich die ganze Administration "regelrecht eingebunkert" habe

Steiner berichtete auch, dass er gegen die Aussage von Schröder interveniert habe, den USA nach den Attacken die "uneingeschränkte Solidarität" Deutschlands zuzusichern. "Ein Staat darf keine Blankoschecks ausstellen", sagte Steiner dem SPIEGEL. Er sei eigens zu Schröder nach Hannover gefahren, um seine Einwände vorzutragen. "Aber er ließ sich nicht umstimmen. Schröder hat mich hochkant rausgeworfen", so Steiner.

Der 65-Jährige, seit diesem Sommer pensioniert, war einer der bekanntesten und schillerndsten Spitzendiplomaten der Bundesrepublik. Zuletzt bekleidete er den Posten des Botschafters in Indien, wo er zusammen mit seiner Frau und dem früheren indischen Außenminister Salman Khurshid durch einen Abschiedsfilm von sich reden machte.

Der 11. September 2001 gilt gemeinhin als Stichtag für den Krieg der USA und ihrer Verbündeten gegen den islamistischen Terror. Damals hatten Anhänger des mittlerweile von den USA getöteten Qaida-Chefs Osama bin Laden in New York und Washington Attentate mit gekaperten Passagiermaschinen verübt. In New York stürzten die Zwillingstürme des World Trade Center ein, in Washington traf ein Flugzeug einen Flügel des US-Verteidigungsministeriums. Bei den Anschlägen wurden fast 3000 Menschen getötet. - Read More at spiegel

Reaktion auf Qaida-Attacken: USA erwogen Atomschlag nach 9/11



'U.S. Considered Using Nukes Against Afghanistan After 9/11' - Haaretz

An aide to former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder says the Bush administration 'really played through all possibilities.'

The United States considered using nuclear weapons against Afghanistan in response to the September 11 attacks, Der Spiegel reported on its website Saturday.

Michael Steiner, who served as a political advisor to then-German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, told the German daily that the nuclear option was one of the possibilities examined after the attacks.

"The papers were written," Steiner said when asked whether the U.S. was considered using nuclear weapons in response to the attacks orchestrated by Al-Qaida's Osama bin Laden, in which almost 3,000 people were killed. "They had really played through all possibilities."

Steiner added that Schroder had feared that the U.S., which was in a state of shock following the attacks, would overreact.

Moreover, Steiner said in the interview that Schroder rejected his idea to publish a statement declaring "unconditional support" for the United States. - Read More

'US Considered Using Nukes Against Afghanistan After 9/11'

DR. QAYOUMI LEAVES SAN JOSE STATE FOR ADVISORY ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN

The president of San Jose State University is saying goodbye to his university life and beginning a new role as chief advisor to the president of Afghanistan.

Monday was the last day on the job for Dr. Mohammad "Mo" Qayoumi, Ph.D. He leaves for Afghanistan later this week. We spent some time with Qayoumi recently, learning about his new job.  

"It was a major decision. It was not an easy decision to basically uproot myself," Qayoumi said.

We caught up with Qayoumi as he was cleaning out his office, preparing to begin his next chapter in life, commuting between the Bay Area and Afghanistan. - View full story

Dr. Qayoumi leaves San Jose State for advisory role in ... - More


RAW VIDEO: Dr. Mo Qayoumi talks about moving on from SJSU 

Friday, August 28, 2015

Col Richard Kemp: Turning our back on Afghanistan could trigger another 9/11

Former commander of British forces in Afghanistan warns there is a danger country could become a 'safe haven for terrorism' once again

Another 9/11 attack could come from terrorists in Afghanistan if Western forces stop helping the country’s police keep the peace, Britain’s former commander in the region has warned.

Col Richard Kemp, who headed up the UK’s military involvement in Afghanistan in 2003, said there was a “big danger” the country could once again become a “safe haven for terrorism”.

He warned that the Taliban want to regain control of Afghanistan and said there was a risk Isil could also increase their influence in the region.

Speaking on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme, Col Kemp warned of withdrawal, saying: “That is when the risk really kicks in of Afghanistan again becoming a safe-haven for terrorism launched against the West.”

He added: “We may then risk the same situation in Afghanistan as we’ve seen in Iraq when all US forces withdrew in 2016. So I think it’s important that not only US but other Nato forces put a significant effort in to assisting the Afghan government for as long as is needed.”

“We are not just seeing the threat from the Taliban in Afghanistan, we are also seeing the Islamic State expending their influence into Afghanistan," he said.

Asked what would happen if the West "writes off" Afghanistan, Col Kemp said: "That of course is something that could well happen as it happened in Iraq in 2012. But I think the danger with that is we do again see another 9/11. The problem is the situation is getting worse not better.  - Read More at Col Richard Kemp:

Col Richard Kemp: Turning our back on Afghanistan could trigger another 9/11

Britain could have 'blood on its hands' over Afghan translators, Lord Dannatt warns

Lord Dannatt, the former head of the army, says that the nation has a 'moral obligation' to Afghan translators who helped British forces

Britain will have "blood on its hands" if Afghan interpreters are killed by the Taliban, the former head of the army has warned  Lord Dannatt said that the nation has a "debt of honour" and a "moral obligation" towards those who served alongside British forces.

It comes amid mounting controversy over the government's refusal to allow Afghan interpreters to return to Britain, including one who worked as a translator for David Cameron.

A total of 200 Afghan interpreters who worked for British forces and have applied for help after being threatened by Taliban militants.

British police working in Kabul have recommended that they take measures to protect themselves such as changing their cars or their phones. However, none of them have been granted asylum in Britain.

Lord Dannatt told The Telegraph: "We have a moral obligation to look after them. If they feel they are not able to live their previous life they have earned the right to come and live in this country.

"I know that immigration is a real problem but the number we are talking about is so small that actually making a fuss about it is a real embarrassment. We have a debt of honour.   -  Read More

Britain could have 'blood on its hands' over Afghan translators, Lord Dannatt warns


US wants China to follow Indian developmental efforts in Afghanistan

Washington: The United States on Thursday urged China to follow the Indian model of engagement and developmental efforts in Afghanistan.

"India has played a constructive role over the last several years inside Afghanistan, and we would look to other nations like China to do the same," State Department Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

India has so far given financial assistance worth more than USD 2 billion to Afghanistan and has been involved in massive developmental efforts in this war-torn country.  "We want Afghanistan to be a good neighbour in the region. And they have many neighbours, and China and India are some of them," he said in response to a question.

"I think everybody in the international community could benefit from an Afghanistan that is secure and stable and prosperous. Our message to the other partners is the same as it's always been, which is we want to make sure that we're all pulling on the same oars here to get Afghanistan to that better future," Kirby said. - Read More

US wants China to follow Indian developmental efforts | Business Standard News

Europe Reels From More Migrant Deaths on Land and Sea - nytimes

VIENNA — Europe reeled from fresh shocks in its escalating migration crisis Friday, with reports of 150 drownings in the Mediterranean and news that far more migrant corpses had been found crammed in an abandoned refrigeration truck in Austria than first thought. Damage to the vehicle’s side raised the possibility that victims had struggled to escape.

The authorities in Austria and Hungary said at least four people had been arrested in connection with the truck as they disclosed that the remains of 71 people had been found inside, including four children, and that at least some had come from Syria. On Thursday officials had estimated as many as 50 people had been packed in the vehicle, before they discovered additional bodies.

The scope of the migrant crisis, the biggest wave to hit Europe since World War II, was further amplified Friday by a report from the United Nations refugee agency estimating a 40 percent jump this year in the number of people fleeing to the Continent by boat compared with all of 2014. Most are escaping war and strife in the Middle East and Africa.

The deadly perils of crossing the Mediterranean, already well known, were reinforced by news from Libyan and international relief officials that 150 people had drowned off western Libya after their boats sank on Thursday. - Read More at NYT

Europe Reels From More Migrant Deaths on Land and Sea

Number Of Refugees Found Dead In Austrian Truck Rises To 71

We have two big, sad stories concerning the rush of migrants trying to make it to Europe from conflict-torn countries in the Middle East and Africa: First, Austrian authorities said the number of people found dead in a food delivery truck, some of whom are believed to be refugees from Syria, has risen to 71.

As we reported, the people are thought to have suffocated. The truck was abandoned along Austria's A4 autobahn.

The Associated Press reports: - Read More at NPR

Number Of Refugees Found Dead In Austrian Truck Rises To 71

U.S. Appeals Court Overturns Decision That NSA Metadata Collection Was Illegal

A three-judge panel for a U.S. appeals court has thrown out a lower-court decision that sought to stop the NSA from continuing to collect metadata on phone calls made by Americans.

The lower court ruling had found that the practice was unconstitutional.

In some ways, this decision is much less important now that Congress has passed a law that changes the way metadata is collected by the government. If you remember, after a fierce battle, both houses of Congress voted in favor of a law that lets phone companies keep that database but still allows the government to query it for specific data

The three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia still decided to take on the case, because that new program doesn't begin until 180 days after the date that law was enacted (June 2, 2015).

Until then, and as a result of this decision, the NSA is allowed to continue with its metadata collection program. - Read More at NPR

U.S. Appeals Court Overturns Decision That NSA Metadata Collection Was Illegal

Rx for Prosperity: German Companies See Refugees as Opportunity - Der Spiegel

The German business community views the recent influx of refugees as an opportunity to help companies grow and ensure long-term prosperity. Many are calling for bureaucratic red tape to be lifted so that new arrivals can enter the labor market faster.
The 18-year-old from Afghanistan has been in an apprenticeship program for about a year now to become a plumbing and heating installer with Heizung-Obermeier, a heating installation company located in Munich's historic city center. The work is never boring, he says. "I like my coworkers, and I often work on construction sites."

He completed a long journey to arrive where he is today.

Hashimi is the eldest of four children. His father died in the war in Afghanistan. When he was 15, Hashimi fled from Jalalabad in northeast Afghanistan and embarked on a five-month journey to Munich. He flew from Kabul to Tehran, and from there, he traveled on foot or by bus through Turkey, Greece and Italy before reaching Germany. Sometimes he was part of a group and sometimes he was alone. He completed a journey of more than 6,000 kilometers (3,730 miles) -- without his family.

After arriving in Munich, he received assistance from the local youth welfare office. As a foreigner, it was difficult at first to find his bearings. "I couldn't understand anyone," says Hashimi, who now speaks German almost fluently. After graduating from lower secondary school with a high grade point average, he completed a traineeship as an auto painter, and then a second traineeship at Heizung-Obermeier, where he was given an important opportunity last year. "If he wants to, he can also complete the work here he needs to become a foreman," says business owner Olaf Zimmermann.

'All Skin Colors Are Welcome'
Two years ago, Zimmermann noticed that it was becoming more and more difficult to find skilled personnel. He already employed people from other countries at the time. "We've had employees from all over Europe. All skin colors are welcome," says Zimmermann. "The focus is on the work. Everything else is unimportant."

Zimmermann, who currently employs two immigrants, says that the problems he encounters are with the German bureaucracy. He doesn't know, for example, whether Hashimi will be allowed to stay in Germany once he completes his apprenticeship.

Hashimi is one of thousands of children who become stranded in Germany year after year, often sent by their parents, in the hope that they will find a better life, get a good education and be better prepared for the future. They numbered an estimated 5,000 in 2013, and more than 10,000 last year. Their numbers are rising, along with the overall figures for asylum-seekers, migrants and refugees. The German government is expecting up to 800,000 asylum-seekers this year alone.

The massive influx of foreigners creates immense challenges for society. Many local authorities are overwhelmed, and refugee hostels, temporary housing and tent cities are overcrowded. The social welfare system and government budgets are faced with billions in additional costs.

A Silver Lining for Germany?
But the influx also provides opportunities for the German economy. Despite the official unemployment figure of almost 2.8 million, the business community urgently needs workers. And every refugee or migrant who finds work becomes less of a drain on the public coffers. The German economy is dependent on immigration, both from Europe as well as people entering the country due to asylum rights in Germany. With the German population shrinking, businesses are unable to fill many jobs, and specialized workers are increasingly rare. This trend will only be exacerbated in the coming years. It's a development that jeopardizes the country's future prosperity. - Read More at Refugees as Opportunity


German Companies See Refugees as Opportunity


Thursday, August 27, 2015

Afghan asylum seekers deported from UK may have been unaware of rights

Home Office ignores law firm’s exhortations to inform people with no legal representation of court order limiting deportation to three Afghan provinces

A private plane chartered by the UK’s Home Office landed in Kabul on Wednesday, carrying almost a dozen failed asylum seekers despite down-to-the-wire legal challenges to prevent the aircraft’s departure.

Lawyers succeeded in removing more than 60 of the asylum seekers initially scheduled to be on the flight but, according to passengers, the plane touched down carrying 11 people.

On Friday, Lord Justice Clarke of the appeal court upheld an earlier ruling to stay the deportation of people originating from all but three Afghan provinces – Kabul, Panjsher and Bamiyan.
However, at least one person from another province was returned despite the court order. Haroon Ahmadi, 39, from the volatile Laghman province, was deported after 11 years in the UK. He said he had not heard about the court decision.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors, a law firm that challenged the deportation flight on behalf of 30 clients, had tried to get the Home Office to inform all the Afghans in detention of the court order, but the Home Office refused.

“So many people on this flight were unrepresented, and if they were, they might not have been informed of the court order,” said Jamie Bell of Duncan Lewis.

However, the order leaves room for some dispute, as it forbids the removal of anyone “habitually resident” in an insecure province. It is unclear whether that terminology is meant to apply to someone like Ahmadi, whose father and brother – who picked him up at the airport – live in Kabul.

“I think the Home Office needs to inform people of their rights,” Bell said. “If he had known about the order, he would have been able to contact legal representation.”

The British government is facing mounting criticism for deporting hundreds of asylum seekers who have spent significant portions of their life in the UK.

Over the past six years, the Home Office has deported 605 Afghans who arrived in the UK as unaccompanied minors, according to a recent report from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Despite Britain’s military engagement in Afghanistan, Afghan children are much more likely to be refused permanent asylum than children of other nationalities. Since 2006, only 6% of unaccompanied Afghan children have been given refugee status, compared with 15% overall, the report says.

This type of uprooting can be very damaging, said Catherine Gladwell, director of the London-based Refugee Support Network. While they enjoy protection as children, asylum-seeking minors put down roots, make friends and join football clubs. “And when they turn 18, all of that is torn apart,” she said. - Read More at the Guardian
Afghan asylum seekers deported from UK may have been unaware of rights
Afghan asylum seekers saved from deportation after last-ditch legal battle

 - Read More