Pakistan faces international pressure to extend the stay of Afghan refugees beyond 31st December. The Pakistan Government’s response is, ‘When their refugee status expires on December 31st they must leave.’ Pakistan intends to expel 3 million Afghans, 1.7 million of them registered and more than half of these living in camps. Most refugees have lived in Pakistan for more than 30 years, and have nothing to return to; their homes, lands and businesses have been destroyed by war or taken by others. Although they live in extreme poverty they would have even less in their native land. Bukahri, an Afghan tribal elder who has been in Pakistan for 30 years running an electrical shop and doing social work said, ‘I'm not saying we won't go, but at this point in time, Afghanistan is weak and will not be able to take this burden.’

Pray: for Afghanistan to prepare for this influx and for many to have homes land and businesses restored. Pray also for refugees to be introduced to the One who is their shield and provider. (Ps.18:36)

More: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/NH07Df02.html

On Sunday 15 April there was a Taliban strike across Afghanistan in a 'spring offensive'. They targeted foreign embassies, including the British, Nato's HQ and the Afghan parliament as well as other areas in Afghanistan. A rocket-propelled grenade was also fired at a house used by British diplomats. Two Afghan security force members and a further 17 Afghan police officers and nine civilians were injured. On 21 April, Afghan security officials foiled a huge attack in the capital Kabul, after the seizure of 10 tonnes of explosives. This amount of explosives could have caused large-scale bloodshed.

Pray: for British servicemen work closely with Afghan police and security forces in many regions in Afghanistan including Kabul. Please pray that God will protect the British Embassy staff and military personnel at all times and help them remain vigilant. (1 Pe.5:8)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17796556

This year is set aside by the International Prayer Movement as a year of prayer for Pakistan and Afghanistan. To assist this initiative some prayer points are listed here today:- *If the Taliban succeed, Afghanistan would again become a training base for international terrorism and affect many nations. Pray that the Taliban’s weapon supply is cut off and for confusion and disunity. * Foreign Aid. Pray that foreign aid pouring into Afghanistan will not be wasted through inefficiency nor diverted by corruption but will reach the neediest and rebuild the nation's shattered infrastructure. *60% of Afghans are under 20, have known nothing but war, long for education opportunities, employment and freedom of choice. Pray that they will be able to break free from Taliban and local warlords' control. May they provide new impetus to efforts of freedom and peace in the nation. *4.5 million refugees have returned, many bringing financial resources, international connections and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Pray: for the raising up of strong and effective leaders from the emerging generation in Afghanistan. (Ps.112:2)

Part 2 of an email from Afghanistan - 'Pakistan is committed to a broken, bloody Afghanistan, and has thrown its budget and its intelligence services into equipping the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and any other group that would agree to decimate that nation. One reason is the fear of the dissolving of its current border with Afghanistan (the Durand Line) which ceded nearly half of Afghanistan away to British India (now Pakistan) for 100 years. The treaty expired in 1993. The Afghans all agree that Pakistan unlawfully occupies some of their best land, the heartland of the Pashtuns. Pakistan knows that a strong, united Afghanistan will press its claim for what amounts to almost half of Islamabad's own beleaguered territories. The Afghan leadership ethos is full of bribery, black market, blood loyalties, and blood feuds. Pray for the tribal elders of each locality, whose corporate decisions can either strengthen or fragment the fibre of their society far more than the Kabul government or its foreign allies.

Pray: that elders would shut out the men of blood from their midst and welcome men tasked with development; also that their sons would be saved from the delusion of Islamic martyrdom. (Is.32:1,2)

An email from Afghanistan reads, - 'There are more wholehearted followers of Jesus in Afghanistan than there have been since the conquest of Islam (from AD 642 to AD 1000) From the time of the Apostle Thomas there had been training schools and missionaries sent to the Far East. Now in 2011 there are several thousand believers meeting house-to-house, meeting through cyberspace, and occasionally renting meeting rooms at hotels. Every major town in the country has an underground group of followers of Isaaye Masih (Jesus Christ). There is also the Diaspora of Afghan believers in Pakistan, India and other nations. There has never been this much political freedom for women and emerging groups of young leaders. Women can vote. There are more schools, educational institutions, social services, professional training courses, civil action groups, cultural societies and sports leagues in Afghanistan than there ever have been at any other time in its modern history. US and allied intervention created the environment for this, mistakes notwithstanding.

Pray: that Afghanistan would embrace its Christian heritage - witnessing to her neighbours far and near with training schools and mission. (Mat.16:18)

A Christian in the country writes, ‘ Over the past several years, a number of hospitals and medical clinics have been put into operation in the Land on our Hearts and many doctors, nurses and midwives have been trained. These efforts have significantly improved the availability and quality of medical care for the people of the Land, although it is still far behind that of more developed countries. However, as foreign involvement and the associated foreign aid begin to decrease, there is concern that these advances may be lost. The people in rural areas could again be left with no available medical care. Please pray that foreign governments and organizations will find sustainable ways to maintain the improvements that have been gained. Please pray for the foreign doctors and nurses who are working in the Land to treat the people and to train local doctors and nurses. Please pray that many of the local people will find the One who is both their spiritual and physical healer.

Pray the Christians working in Afghanistan will know God's provision, and that the many needing medical care will continue to receive it. (Pr. 10:29)

Hamid Karzai said he would guarantee the security of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar if he decided to enter into talks. Omar (of the Hotak tribe) ruled the country until 2001. The US has offered a multimillion dollar reward for his capture. The tribe of President Karzai is the Popalzai and while he is the most famous Popalzai in Afghanistan Abdul Ghani Baradar is considered key to Afghanistan’s future. Baradar was Minister of Defence in the Taliban government prior to 2001. The relationship between the two Popalzai men goes back a long way. Popalzais are more loyal to their own tribe than to the regime in Kabul or the Taliban - tribal contacts are more important than ideology. Prior to his detention in Pakistan Mullah Baradar attempted to establish peace negotiations between Kabul’s administration and Taliban’s inner circle of leaders. Mullah Baradar is currently on a list of Taliban prisoners that the Pakistani government is talking about releasing for some influence in return.

Pray: that God’s will would be done in the midst of all that is happening and that it will result in peace for the region. (Mat.6:10)

More: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/17/afghanistan-taliban