LAHORE – Players from Afghanistan’s female youth soccer teams have arrived in Pakistan and will seek political asylum in third countries amid concern over the status of female athletes under the new Taliban government in Kabul.
About 81 people, including female players of several youth teams, their coaches and family members reached Pakistan through the Torkham border crossing, Umar Zia, a senior Pakistan Football Federation official, said on Wednesday.
It was not clear when they actually crossed the border. Officials gave them garlands of red flowers as they stepped off a bus at the Federation’s office in Lahore on Wednesday.
They will stay there under tight security before applying for asylum in third countries, Zia told Reuters.
“They will go to some other country after 30 days as several international organizations are working towards settling them in any other country, including the UK, US and Australia,” he said.
The Football for Peace international organisation helped to arrange their departure from Afghanistan and arrival in Pakistan.
Their flight is part of a broader exodus of Afghan intellectuals and public figures, especially women, since the Taliban took over the country a month ago.
A further 34 people are expected to arrive on Thursday in Pakistan, Zia said.
(Reuters)
