Afghan Students in Islamabad are in despair as President Donald Trump put an end to refugee visa processing.
Confusion, instead of hope, filled their lives at an English school, setting up to resettle Afghans, their existence derailed by the past of US resettlement.
Syed Hasibullah, a 20-year-old teacher with a pending US visa application, described the somber atmosphere among students.
Usually active learners were quiet or cried after hearing the bad news.
Many Afghan students, including those fleeing the Taliban, felt betrayed after enduring years of waiting.
It was a terrible experience for us, Hasibullah said, expressing the pain of the 3 year awaiting hope to become again a hope.
The sudden suspension shattered expectations for many who underwent extensive vetting and prepared for new lives in the US.
In the same class, an 16-year-old girl cried to the announcement, hard-pressed to concentrate on learning English sentences.
Denied the opportunity to go to school in Afghanistan, she had dreamed of furthering her studies in the United States.
Now, like others, her dreams seem uncertain. The tutoring academy, which has about 300 students, is one of the few places in which Afghans are waiting for US visas.
Pakistani people, who do not have the ability to engage in formal work/studies, depend upon such schools for their education.
In the meantime, tens of thousands of Afghans living in Pakistan are on the line of US resettler visa or refugee, but moving is no more.
Reports about refugees
Reports also show that nearly 1,660 Afghans already selected for US resettlement had their flights scrapped according to the novel policy.
Fatima, a 57 years-old women’s rights activist, is wondering whether her family travelling plans will go ahead.
Whereas, after years of working for US-funded activities, she lost trust in the US and feels abandoned.
Fatima is worried about the safety and future, in particular, her daughters’ return to studies.
Protest against US
A large number of Afghans have reached the US embassy and UN agencies, but the answers have so far been unclear.
“After helping you, we expected your help in return, Hasibullah said, expressing feelings of betrayal as hope fades for many Afghan refugees.
