In the quiet classrooms of Pakistani universities, thousands of Afghan students – many in the last stretch of their advanced degrees – are living with an unrelenting countdown. On 31 August 2025, Pakistan’s government has ordered that all Afghan nationals must leave the country or face arrest and deportation.
The Afghan carpet industry is a significant part of the country's economy and cultural heritage, providing livelihoods for millions and contributing significantly to exports.
Since September 2023, nearly a million Afghans, 545,000 of them children, have returned, often with little more than a few belongings in hand and no clear idea of what lies ahead.
The Afghan caretaker government is working to assist the sudden influx of returnees. Local officials in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces have been coordinating transportation to help families return to their hometowns.
The refugees contended that despite possessing valid documentation authorising their stay in Pakistan, they were being targeted in the expulsion drive, detained without cause, and in some cases deported.
The incoming administration of President-elect Masud Pezeshkian faces the daunting task of addressing both the humanitarian needs of Afghan refugees and the domestic pressures...
UNHCR acknowledged that Pakistan's decision marks a significant step in ensuring humanitarian assistance and protection for Afghan refugees amid regional challenges and geopolitical complexities.
In...
The centre has sounded an alarm over the likely impact of El Niño on India's 2026 southwest monsoon, warning that 315 districts across 12 states could face significant rainfall deficits during the crucial kharif cropping season.
As South Asia grapples with climate vulnerabilities, economic disparities, and historical animosities, initiatives like COVA’s video competition offer a beacon of hope.
The centre has sounded an alarm over the likely impact of El Niño on India's 2026 southwest monsoon, warning that 315 districts across 12 states could face significant rainfall deficits during the crucial kharif cropping season.
As South Asia grapples with climate vulnerabilities, economic disparities, and historical animosities, initiatives like COVA’s video competition offer a beacon of hope.