Under the fading lights of Delhi's bustling alleys, a dark shadow looms over thousands of Afghan refugees. As India cozies up to the Taliban with embassy upgrades and high-level visits, these fleeing families brace for a horrifying future – could they be sent back to the brutal regime they escaped?
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| *Image created using Grok (xAI), 2025. Planet-Today.com* |
In the winding streets of Lajpat Nagar, the aroma of freshly baked naan fills the air – a reminder of home for the Afghan exiles who have built fragile lives in India's capital. But now, with India's shocking diplomatic pivot toward the Taliban, their dreams of safety are shattering.
Forty-two-year-old Mina Mazari, a beautician from Herat, shares her nightmare: "I came here nine years ago with my husband and three children... But we cannot think of going back. My family is in Afghanistan, and I do miss them. I have three daughters, and going back would mean an end to their education."
Between heartbreaking memories and sheer survival, these refugees carry only resilience from years of war. But India's warming ties with Kabul's ruthless rulers have sparked panic – will Delhi sacrifice them for geopolitical games?
In a bombshell move, Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi visited New Delhi in October 2025, where India upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to full embassy status – a massive signal of deepening engagement without formal recognition.
India also greenlit Taliban diplomats in Delhi and pledged more humanitarian aid, trade via Chabahar Port, and investments in mining. In November 2025, during Taliban Trade Minister Nooruddin Azizi's visit, air cargo services were announced to skyrocket bilateral trade.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Muttaqi, stressing India's "enduring friendship" with Afghans while committing to health projects like maternity centers and oncology facilities.
But for nearly 21,000 Afghan refugees in India – many in Delhi's Lajpat Nagar, Bhogal, and Malviya Nagar – this "pragmatic" shift feels like betrayal. "Both countries seem to be getting closer, but we are worried that if anyone actually cares about the Afghan people," Mazari warns.
Anas Attai, 35, who fled before Kabul's 2021 fall, says: "Being away from home has taken an emotional toll... We feel uprooted."
With flights halted since 2021, family reunions are impossible. Many live in limbo without formal refugee laws, struggling with visas, property, and school admissions.
Muhammad Nishad, 55, running a repair shop: "My daughters are fortunate to be pursuing education here... I doubt if our lives will change as India and the Taliban get closer."
Yet Afghan culture thrives in spots like Mazar Restaurant, offering fleeting community comfort.
But outrage boils among women: 27-year-old student Ayeesha Ahmad, who fled the girls' education ban, fumes: "It is heartbreaking that people who banned women from education are receiving a red carpet welcome in India."
Why the sudden embrace? Experts reveal India's cunning strategy: Counter Pakistan's influence amid Taliban-Islamabad tensions, secure mining interests, and block China's inroads – even if it means dealing with the devil.
Analyst Michael Kugelman calls it India's "pragmatic and agile" policy. Brahma Chellaney warns it's a "setback for Pakistan" and nears de facto Taliban recognition.
As diplomatic doors swing open, refugees whisper: Will India force us back into the Taliban's iron grip? The clock is ticking on their fragile sanctuary.
Original article by Sumitra Bhatti: https://www.rt.com/india/629317-we-cannot-think-of-going-back/
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