Famous Actor Among Afghan Refugees in Karachi

Reuters
By Reuters
August 19, 2021Middle East
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Famous Actor Among Afghan Refugees in Karachi
Pakistani soldiers stand guard at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on Aug. 14, 2021, after the Taliban took control of the Afghan border town in a rapid offensive across the country. (AFP via Getty Images)

With the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul thousands of people have fled Afghanistan fearful of what the future may hold for the nation, including a well known actor in the country.

Farhad Khan is one of many Afghan refugees now living in a camp in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

The local star has worked with different actors across the globe and said one person he wanted to follow in the footsteps of was that of Indian actor Shahrukh Khan.

But since the takeover he expressed his fear of returning to Afghanistan and continuing his career in the country after what he said the Taliban had done to actors in the past.

“The Taliban do not want actors’ working in films and dramas,” he said.

“They have killed lots of people who were working in TV and film. It would be my last days if I visited Afghanistan again.”

Khan added he was now stuck in Pakistan and felt “helpless” about the situation.

The actor’s fear is shared by others in the Karachi refugee camp including student Naseeb Khan, who has been living in Pakistan for the last four years.

Since their takeover the terrorists’ every action in their sudden sweep to power has been watched closely.

They insist they have changed and won’t impose the same tyranny they did when they last ruled Afghanistan, all but eliminating women’s rights, carrying out public executions and harboring al-Qaida in the years before the 9/11 attacks.

But many Afghans remain deeply skeptical, and a violent response to a protest in the country on Wednesday has only fueled fears.