Afghans Flee to Pakistan. An Uncertain Future Awaits.

Refugees have drawn an angry response from many in that country, leading to discrimination and efforts to force them to go back to Afghanistan.

TORKHAM, Pakistan — The Taliban, thankfully, didn’t figure out Mohammad was a police officer. Mohammad, 55, had worked for years in Laghman Province east of Kabul, where chasing militants was part of the job. Then the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. They killed his boss. Mohammad figured he and his family were next. “We left Afghanistan mainly to protect our lives,” said Mohammad, who insisted on being identified only by his first name to protect his extended family from reprisals. On Aug. 16, he, his wife and their five children reached Spin Boldak, a town on the Afghanistan side of the border, before crossing to Chaman on the Pakistan side. To get there, they navigated watchful Taliban and paid Pakistan security forces $900 in bribes.