

Hasth-e-Subh Since the fall of the Afghan republic, the situation for the Ismaili community has worsened. Over the past three years, the Taliban, driven by their bias against non-Hanafi Muslims, have imposed various pressures on the Ismailis. Advocates for religious minority rights report that no Ismaili currently holds any senior government position under the Taliban regime. Additionally, videos circulating on social media show Taliban members referring to Ismailis as “infidels and non-Muslims,” demanding they recite the Islamic creed to convert. These pressures have driven many Afghan Ismailis to flee the country, primarily seeking refuge in Pakistan. Those who left Afghanistan after the fall of the republic now face difficult living conditions in Pakistan.
Hashmatullah (pseudonym), an Afghan Ismaili who migrated to Pakistan after the Taliban takeover, previously worked as a professional officer at the Ministry of Interior during the republic. The former government did not discriminate based on religion in employment or state benefits. However, the Taliban dismissed him due to their religious prejudices and because he follows a non-Hanafi branch of Islam.
“When the Taliban came to power, I continued going to work as usual. Three months after the fall, our section head was replaced by a Taliban member. He summoned me and said that, based on my record, I wasn’t a Muslim, and their system wouldn’t pay my salary. He told me I was no longer needed in the department,” Hashmatullah told the Hasht-e Subh Daily.
He added, “We Ismailis are Muslims, a branch of Shia Islam. The Taliban dismissed not only me but also several of my Ismaili colleagues, replacing us with their own people.”
After losing his job, Hashmatullah was forced to flee to Pakistan with his family of four, now hoping to seek asylum in Western countries. “I’ve been in Pakistan for two years and three months. My case is still under review, and I hope the Canadian government will issue visas for my family and me soon,” he says.
The poor condition of his rented home, with worn-out carpets and dishes, reflects his hardship. He adds, “I barely survive on financial help from relatives in Canada. My children don’t attend school; they only take English language courses provided by the Aga Khan Foundation. I’m unemployed, and during my time in Pakistan, I haven’t received any financial support from human rights or international organizations.” He also noted that even the Aga Khan Foundation doesn’t offer financial assistance to Ismaili refugees in Pakistan.
Roien (pseudonym), another Ismaili follower who left Afghanistan two years ago and settled in Pakistan, shared his experience. “There was religious discrimination even during the republic, and we faced challenges because of our beliefs. But after the Taliban came, life became unbearable. They’re staunchly opposed to our faith, and we live in constant fear. If we had issues with government offices or disputes, we worried the Taliban’s extremist views and religious differences would cause serious problems.”
Roien and his family have registered with the United Nations, hoping their asylum case will be processed for resettlement in Western countries. He complains about Pakistan’s poor economy but adds, “Our only issue is the economy. The Pakistani police don’t bother us, and unlike the Taliban, they treat us well. When we tell them we are Ismaili, they don’t harass us or try to expel us like they do other refugees.”
Sayed Mahdi Mahdawi, an advocate for religious minority rights, explains that the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam leads them to discriminate against followers of other Islamic sects. He describes this behavior as unjust, stating, “According to the constitution, which the Taliban reject, and internationally accepted covenants, governments or ruling regimes are obligated to guarantee and protect the natural freedoms of citizens, including freedom of thought, expression, residence, occupation, and religious belief.”
Mahdawi adds that the Taliban’s actions over the past three years and during their previous five-year rule demonstrate their belief that all citizens must follow a particular sect of Islam.
Since coming to power, the Taliban have consistently targeted non-Hanafi sects, especially Shias, Salafis, and Ismailis. Videos shared by Taliban members on social media show Ismailis in northern provinces being forced to recite the Islamic creed, a practice typically associated with non-Muslims converting to Islam.
The Taliban have also purged Ismailis from government offices. Religious prejudice has driven many Ismailis to flee Afghanistan, seeking refuge in Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Turkey. Due to the lack of accurate statistics, the exact number of Ismailis in Afghanistan is unclear. However, they are known to live in provinces like Badakhshan, Balkh, Takhar, Parwan, Samangan, Kandahar, Bamyan, and Maidan Wardak.