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CNN Sunday Morning

Afghan Exiles in Pakistan Have Not Escaped Fear of Taliban

Aired October 28, 2001 - 08:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Many Afghans leave their war-torn country for Pakistan. But while they may seek safe haven, their safety isn't always guaranteed. CNN's Bill Delaney explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid the powerful cross currents now blowing in Pakistan, at once allied with the West, but with resistance to that alliance openly simmering.

Easily forgotten are Afghan exiles -- no one even seems to know how many -- in Pakistan. Like a father and son in a tiny Islamabad apartment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Pakistan, also, we are in danger. I feel we are in danger because of the Taliban. Taliban are in here in Pakistan, are armed and very powerful.

DELANEY: Homa Yum Baha (ph), long a policeman in Afghanistan until he fled three years ago, says he's been threatened; once nearly run over by a car driven by Taliban in Pakistan.

(on camera): Are you afraid for your life in Pakistan?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, for my life and for my children's lives and for my wife's life.

DELANEY (voice-over): For Afghan refugees in Pakistan, uncertainty intensified because elements in Pakistan's government and military so long supported and harbored the Taliban.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They hate us here. And also, they hate us -- especially the religious people in Pakistan. Because we hate Taliban, they hate us. So they can do anything anytime. Maybe they will kill us. Anytime they can do anything.

DELANEY: While Afghan exiles support bringing the Taliban down by force, many also fear anger of some Pakistanis over continued bombing in Afghanistan could mean more trouble for them.

(on camera): What adds pressure here on Afghans, police harassment. Afghans say because so many of them have no papers, they become easy marks, like non-persons. (voice-over): Since so many cross into Pakistan without identity papers by bribing border officials, Afghans say Pakistani police can now demand further bribes not to throw them in jail. Police deny that, saying they have to check identity papers.

Afghans say an Afghan passport to make them legal costs more than $100, about what the Baha (ph) family scrapes together each month to live on in Pakistan.

Bill Delaney, CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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