Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
Afghanistan

Fleeing Fighting, Afghans Flood Into Kabul And Gather At Pakistan Border

Tens of thousands of people have been flooding into the Afghan capital, Kabul, and gathering at the Pakistan border to escape the escalating fighting between Taliban militants and government forces.

As more provincial capitals fell to the Taliban, Afghanistan's Refugees and Repatriations Ministry said that more than 35,000 families had arrived in the capital over the last week and that officials are struggling to provide them food and shelter.
Displaced Afghans scramble for food in Kabul.
1 Displaced Afghans scramble for food in Kabul.
Thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) flooded into Kabul's northern Khair Khana district on August 11. Many traveled from Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kunduz, Takhar, and other Afghan provinces that have been overrun by Taliban militants.
2 Thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) flooded into Kabul's northern Khair Khana district on August 11. Many traveled from Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kunduz, Takhar, and other Afghan provinces that have been overrun by Taliban militants.
Children who have fled recent fighting find safety in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
3 Children who have fled recent fighting find safety in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Internally displaced Afghan families rest in a field in Kabul after fleeing Kunduz and Takhar provinces, where fighting raged between Taliban militants and Afghan security forces.
4 Internally displaced Afghan families rest in a field in Kabul after fleeing Kunduz and Takhar provinces, where fighting raged between Taliban militants and Afghan security forces.
Some Afghan families have been living in tents at a makeshift camp in the Sara-e Shamali district of Kabul. 
5 Some Afghan families have been living in tents at a makeshift camp in the Sara-e Shamali district of Kabul. 
Internally displaced Afghans sit under their shelters at the Sara-e Shamali camp in Kabul. 
6 Internally displaced Afghans sit under their shelters at the Sara-e Shamali camp in Kabul. 
People seeking medical care gather around an ambulance in Kabul's northern Khair Khana district on August 11.
7 People seeking medical care gather around an ambulance in Kabul's northern Khair Khana district on August 11.
Displaced Afghans have been living in this Kabul park.
8 Displaced Afghans have been living in this Kabul park.
Displaced children from Afghanistan's northern provinces take refuge in a public park in Kabul.
9 Displaced children from Afghanistan's northern provinces take refuge in a public park in Kabul.
An Afghan child receives medical treatment in a Kabul park.
10 An Afghan child receives medical treatment in a Kabul park.
Afghan children cool off while playing with a hose at the Shahr-e Naw park in Kabul.
11 Afghan children cool off while playing with a hose at the Shahr-e Naw park in Kabul.
An Afghan woman and child in a Kabul public park.
12 An Afghan woman and child in a Kabul public park.
Pakistani security forces use tear gas to disperse displaced Afghans who were gathering at the Pakistani border on August 12. Many Afghans want to get to the Pakistani city of the Chaman border crossing, but it was closed after the Taliban took control of the Kandahar side.
13 Pakistani security forces use tear gas to disperse displaced Afghans who were gathering at the Pakistani border on August 12. Many Afghans want to get to the Pakistani city of the Chaman border crossing, but it was closed after the Taliban took control of the Kandahar side.
People stranded at the Afghan-Pakistan border on August 11 after the Chaman crossing was closed. The Taliban's shadow governor for Kandahar Province issued a statement a week before, announcing the closure of the border.
14 People stranded at the Afghan-Pakistan border on August 11 after the Chaman crossing was closed. The Taliban's shadow governor for Kandahar Province issued a statement a week before, announcing the closure of the border.
Afghan families stranded at the Afghan-Pakistan border on August 12. The Taliban has taken control of most of Kandahar Province and there has been heavy fighting in the provincial capital as government forces try to hold onto Kandahar city.
15 Afghan families stranded at the Afghan-Pakistan border on August 12. The Taliban has taken control of most of Kandahar Province and there has been heavy fighting in the provincial capital as government forces try to hold onto Kandahar city.
A driver walks past Afghan-bound trucks stuck at the Chaman border crossing.
16 A driver walks past Afghan-bound trucks stuck at the Chaman border crossing.
Pakistani soldiers stand guard as stranded Afghans wait for the reopening of the border crossing on August 12.
17 Pakistani soldiers stand guard as stranded Afghans wait for the reopening of the border crossing on August 12.
Taliban fighters took control of Ghazni, the capital of Ghazni Province, on August 12. It becomes the 10th Afghan provincial capital to fall to the militants over the past week​. Ghazni is located 150 kilometers southwest of Kabul and has major strategic importance. It lies along the Kabul-Kandahar highway that connects the capital with militant strongholds in the south.​
18 Taliban fighters took control of Ghazni, the capital of Ghazni Province, on August 12. It becomes the 10th Afghan provincial capital to fall to the militants over the past week​. Ghazni is located 150 kilometers southwest of Kabul and has major strategic importance. It lies along the Kabul-Kandahar highway that connects the capital with militant strongholds in the south.​
16x9 Image

RFE/RL

RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

Recommended

​
XS
SM
MD
LG