The fall of Bashar al-Assad's government marks a significant turning point in the Western Asia region. Assad was overthrown by a quick onslaught by opposition troops commanded by Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, following more about 13 years of civil war and international sanctions.

This article focuses on the recent moves by both Pakistan and Iran to deport large number of Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan and seeks to analyse the issues associated with such a policy measure. It concludes that both countries need to adopt a humane approach to these refugees and encourage voluntary return rather than push them forcibly into a country where they are not sure of their future.

Rather than resorting to denial, which is symptomatic of the Yunus government’s lack of action, it should work towards improving the country’s law and order situation, preventing communal attacks by Islamic radical groups on the Hindus, that have continued with alarming regularity since Hasina’s fall.

The town of Parachinar, located in the Kurram Valley of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, is one of the most wretched locations continually affected by sectarian violence in the country especially during the last two decades.