A Refuge for Afghan Music Is at Risk of Falling Silent

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Elian Peltier and Asim HafeezJanuary 17, 2026 at 06:01 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Peshawar, Pakistan, once a refuge for Afghan musicians fleeing the Taliban's ban on music, is now threatening this community with deportations. Since 2023, Pakistan has expelled over a million Afghans, including artists who have preserved Afghan musical traditions for decades. These musicians, along with other Afghan artists, initially sought safety in Pakistan from war, political instability, and the Taliban's persecution of the arts, particularly music. The deportations stem from Pakistan's accusations that the Taliban government supports insurgents, leading to the declaration of millions of Afghans as illegal. This puts Afghan music and its preservation at risk, as artists fear returning to Afghanistan where the Taliban prohibits such expression.

Keywords

afghan music 100% afghan refugees 90% taliban ban 80% peshawar 70% deportation 70% cultural preservation 60% music shop 50% cassette tapes 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative
Score: -0.70

Source Transparency

Source
New York Times - World
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.30)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
Pakistan

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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