TORKHAM, Pakistan — The Taliban, thankfully, didn’t figure out Mohammad was a police officer. Mohammad, 55, had worked for years in Laghman Province east of Kabul, where chasing militants was part of the job. “We left Afghanistan mainly to protect our lives,” said Mohammad, who insisted on being identified only by his first name to protect his extended family from reprisals. To get there, they navigated watchful Taliban and paid Pakistan security forces $900 in bribes. “But, luckily, they did not recognize me because, maybe, I was a low-ranked cop.”The Pakistan authorities are watching worriedly to see whether more refugees like Mohammad and his family come pouring over the border.

Source: International New York Times September 08, 2021 21:00 UTC