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Ajmal Haikalzada, 44, first grew to become a refugee when his artist father left Afghanistan for Pakistan through the Soviet-Afghan struggle within the Nineteen Eighties. In 2001, then a musician, he returned, singing and performing throughout the nation of his beginning after the US toppled the Taliban.
20 years later, he fled as soon as once more because the Taliban took over Kabul.
Now in Peshawar, Pakistan, Haikalzada mentioned that after the Taliban returned, musicians and artists have been confined to their properties, musical establishments have been closed and musicians hid their devices. They’d heard tales of the Taliban destroying musical devices in Kabul.
However neighbouring Pakistan has not offered the protection he hoped. Final month, Haikalzada was arrested as a crackdown on Afghan refugees started.
“As Afghanistan was not a rustic for artists, I bought all my musical devices to save lots of my life. I assumed we might carry out music and protect our artwork in Pakistan however we have been incorrect,” mentioned Haikalzada.
“The police requested for my nationwide identification card and upon seeing it, they arrested me as I’m an unregistered refugee.” He was launched two days later.
The identical factor occurred in Could to Nadeem Shah, 24, considered one of 4 Afghan musicians arrested on suspicion of being in Pakistan illegally. “We’re requested to supply proof of registration, which we don’t possess,” he mentioned.
“It turns into tough to persuade the police that we’re artists who have been pressured to flee. Nobody leaves their house by selection – it was a matter for survival, due to which, we left a chunk of ourselves again house. However right here too, we’re harassed.”
Pakistan has been internet hosting at the least 1.4 million registered refugees and greater than 1.5 million unregistered refugees, and not using a authorized standing, for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. Tons of and hundreds of Afghans fled to Pakistan final 12 months after the Taliban seized management of Kabul. They’re requesting registered refugee standing because the nation is dealing with an financial crunch.
Within the capital, Islamabad, greater than 450 Afghan households have been dwelling in makeshift homes and camped close to the press membership to demand registration or settlement in a 3rd nation. Police have dispersed them using violence, prompting criticism from civil society teams.
Pakistani organisations together with Hunari Tolana, Hunar Kor and Mafkoora have been campaigning for the rights of greater than 150 Afghan artists registered with them.
Hayat Roghani, the president of Mafkoora, mentioned they’ve requested the UN refugee company, UNHCR, and Pakistani authorities to present proof of registration to Afghan artists. “We’re simply asking for PORs for Afghan artists who must be allowed to journey and carry out in Pakistan,” he mentioned.
Kainat Tufan, 22, a singer who has appeared on varied TV channels in Afghanistan, wore a veil to cover her tattoos and disguised herself as a smuggler’s spouse to cross into Pakistan.
“We spent a month in Kabul after the takeover, helpless, crying and hungry. Those that might flee did so instantly. I gave my Afghan passport and identification card to borrow $200 (£169) to journey to Pakistan by way of Spin Boldak,” she mentioned.
“I needed to flee as a result of Afghanistan is not a land for girls and there’s no house for artists. There’s even no house for females as an entire. It has develop into a male-dominated nation. We, girls, need our house again.”
The crackdown in Peshawar prompted a musical protest by Afghan and Pakistani artists within the metropolis, who carried out, chanted slogans and held placards, demanding the discharge of the arrested musicians.
Ustad Sanam Gul, 50, a famend musician from Afghanistan who fled to Pakistan, was amongst them. Gul comes from a protracted line of musicians and had earned the title of ustad (trainer) from the state, with greater than 60 college students underneath his tutelage at his two academies in Kabul and Jalalabad.
After Kabul fell, he opened a petroleum station, however it was destroyed by the Taliban, who instructed him he couldn’t work since he had promoted music and performed for the state.
Taking part in together with his dholak, a small two-headed drum, Gul mentioned: “My college students and different musicians tried to persuade the Taliban to permit us to proceed work, however to no avail. A musical academy of a buddy in Kabul was destroyed by the Taliban. For music and humanities, Afghanistan has shut its doorways.”
He mentioned music not solely connects hearts however nations: “Taliban ought to enable music and I additionally request Pakistani authorities to assist us carry out and join with [the] lots, as an alternative of harassing us and preserving us underneath surveillance.”
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