former government (although there was no formal decree to this effect), incidents from parts of Afghanistan, which include the targeted killing of people who formerly worked for the government, have confirmed that these statements are only a cover for a reversion to their earlier regime of repression. Human Rights Defenders, women politicians, former government workers and religious and ethnic minorities face heightened risks. For example, since the takeover, the Taliban has targeted those who worked for the Afghan police force, and in one instance, killed Banu Negar a former woman police officer who was pregnant at the time.21 A popular comedian Nazar Mohammed, who had formerly worked for the police force, was abducted from his home, and killed.22 In another instance, Zarifa Ghafari, Afghanistan’s first female mayor, told the media that the Taliban had searched for her, confiscated her car, and beaten up her guards. 23 She has now left Afghanistan.24 Mahmud, a human rights defender, told Amnesty International that minorities in Afghanistan are in grave dangerspecifically, Shias, Hazaras, Hindu, and Sikh communities.25 Other reports have emerged of the Taliban threatening family members of those who have fled, threatening death, or demanding ransom in the event these people do not return.26 As of 26 August, thousands of Afghans were already pouring across the border into Pakistan.27 Those who are at risk face immense challenges in leaving the country, both through the airports and through land borders. American troops ended the evacuation from the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) at midnight on 30 August. It is reported that some commercial and charter flights commenced since 9 September from HKIA.28 Entry points to bordering countries, like the Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing to Pakistan in Kandahar, was closed by Pakistan on 3 September,29 in the weeks following the Taliban takeover of Kabul, limiting the ability of refugees to cross the border.30 Reports emerged that on 2 September 2021 four people died as a result of a stampede as they tried to rush across the border.31 The Taliban denied their involvement in the killing to the BBC. BBC. 5 September 2021. “Afghanistan: Taliban accused of killing pregnant police officer”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58455826. However, relatives have confirmed she was killed by the Taliban. Tweet. Aditya Raj Kaul 21 @AdityaRajKaul. 5 September 2021. 7:04 PM. https://twitter.com/adityarajkaul/status/1434510349609299971?lang=en. Alex Horton and Ezzatullah Mehrdad. The Washington Post. 28 july 2021. “After ‘comedian’ is killed by Taliban, videos of his treatment spark outrage across Afghanistan”. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/28/nazar-khasha-afghanistan-comedian/. ANI. “Popular Afghan comedian killed by gunmen, family blames Taliban”. https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/popular-afghan-comedian-killed-by-gunmen-family-blamestaliban20210723165601/. 22 Yogita Limaye. BBC. 1 September 2021. “Amid violent reprisals, Afghans fear the Taliban's 'amnesty' was empty”. https://www.bbc.com/news/worldasia-58395954. Zarifa Ghafari. Al Jazeera. 16 September 2021. “The world should not yet engage with the new Taliban government”. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/9/16/the-world-should-not-yet-engage-with-the-new-taliban-government. 23 Yogita Limaye. BBC. 1 September 2021. “Amid violent reprisals, Afghans fear the Taliban's 'amnesty' was empty”. https://www.bbc.com/news/worldasia-58395954. Zarifa Ghafari. Al Jazeera. 16 September 2021. “The world should not yet engage with the new Taliban government”. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/9/16/the-world-should-not-yet-engage-with-the-new-taliban-government. 24 25 Mahmud. Interview response sent via email. 10 September 2021. Amnesty International. Yogita Limaye. BBC. 1 September 2021. “Amid violent reprisals, Afghans fear the Taliban's 'amnesty' was empty”. https://www.bbc.com/news/worldasia-58395954. 26 27 BBC. 31 August 2021. “Afghanistan: Fleeing the Taliban into Pakistan and leaving dreams behind”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58380551. Reuters. 10 September 2021. 9 September 2021. “Afghanistan commercial flights resume as U.N. accuses Taliban of harassment”. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-interim-government-agrees-let-foreigners-leave-afghanistan-2021-09-09/. New York Times. “A Qatari jet carries more than 100 foreigners from Kabul”. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/09/world/asia/taliban-americans-afghanistan.html. 28 Scroll.in. 3 September 2021. “Afghanistan: Pakistan temporarily closes key border crossing amid fears of refugee influx”. https://scroll.in/latest/1004490/afghanistan-pakistan-temporarily-closes-key-border-crossing-amid-fears-of-refugee-influx. 29 Hindustan Times. 2 September 2021. “Deadly stampede after Pakistan shuts key border crossing with Afghanistan: Report”. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/deadly-stampede-after-pakistan-shuts-key-border-crossing-with-afghanistan-report101630584905141.html. 30 Tweet. Muslim Shirzad. @MuslimShirzad. 2 September 2021. 4:06 PM. https://twitter.com/MuslimShirzad/status/1433378247052566532. Hindustan Times. 2 September 2021. “Deadly stampede after Pakistan shuts key border crossing with Afghanistan: Report”. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/deadly-stampede-after-pakistan-shuts-key-border-crossing-with-afghanistan-report101630584905141.html. 31 THE FATE OF THOUSANDS HANGING IN THE BALANCE: AFGHANISTAN’S FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN Amnesty International 5