Trump’s new travel ban may target Pakistanis, Afghans — Chaos looms for thousands

US President Donald Trump

A new travel ban from President Donald Trump may take impact as early as subsequent week, probably barring vacationers from Pakistan and Afghanistan in a dramatic escalation of his immigration crackdown, as per the sources quoted by Reuters.
The coverage, eerily paying homage to Trump’s controversial “Muslim ban” from his first time period, is about to dam thousands of Afghans who aided US forces from reaching security, throwing their fates into uncertainty.
A return to excessive vetting?
As per stories, the new restrictions stem from an government order Trump signed on January 20, his first day again in workplace. The order mandates a stricter safety evaluate of overseas nationals and calls for a listing of nations that allegedly pose nationwide safety dangers. That listing, sources say, contains Afghanistan and Pakistan, with different nations probably being added.
While the Trump administration insists the transfer is about safety, critics name it a heartless betrayal of Afghan allies who risked their lives working alongside American forces.
“They vetted us, then they banned us”
Among these left in limbo are over 200,000 Afghans awaiting US visas—lots of them former translators, navy aides, and authorities staff promised safety from Taliban retaliation.
“Afghans who cleared resettlement screenings are already the most heavily vetted people in the world,” a US official accustomed to the method was quoted as saying. “And yet, here we are, shutting the door in their faces.”
Trump’s crackdown additionally comes amid rising Taliban violence and Islamic State insurgencies in Afghanistan, leaving many fearing that deportations or stranded visa candidates may face lethal penalties.
Pakistan additionally on the listing?
Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation and longtime US ally, can be anticipated to be included within the ban. The transfer is prone to inflame tensions between Washington and Islamabad, particularly as Pakistan grapples with its personal wave of violent extremism.
With 20,000 Afghan refugees caught in Pakistan, advocates worry a bureaucratic nightmare unfolding—stranded visa holders, households torn aside, and mounting stress on an already overwhelmed Pakistani authorities.
“Leave now” warning issued
In response, Shawn VanDiver, head of the #AfghanEvac coalition, is urging visa holders to depart instantly.
“Multiple sources within the US government suggest a new travel restriction could be implemented within the next week,” he stated in a press release.
What occurs subsequent?
The official listing of banned international locations is predicted by March 12, whereas Afghan resettlement efforts could possibly be shut down by April. Trump’s 90-day freeze on refugee admissions has already left thousands stranded in limbo.
While authorized challenges and diplomatic pushback are inevitable, for many Afghans and Pakistanis determined to succeed in the US, time is operating out.