Islamabad, Pakistan – On a nice February afternoon in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, the sound of strumming guitars fills a small bed room in a two-storey house that homes tenants from neighbouring Afghanistan.
A flight of slippery marble stairs results in the room on the primary ground, the place the brilliant rays of the solar enter via the window and bounce off the musical devices, which belong to 4 younger guitarists.
These guitarists – 18-year-old Yasemin aka Jellybean, 16-year-old Zakia, 14-year-old Shukriya, and seven-year-old Uzra – are Afghan refugees who, with their households, fled the nation after the Taliban returned to energy in August 2021.
Yasemin and Uzra are sisters, as are Zakiya and Shukriya. That is the place Yasemin and Uzra are actually dwelling with their household.
The bed room is the place the ladies spend hours at a stretch practising and jamming from Saturday to Thursday. Friday is their weekly break day.
On the day Al Jazeera visits, the ladies are busy tuning their guitars. They tease each other as they strum squeaky, off-key chords in between.
Wearing a gray sweatshirt, her head coated with a black scarf, Yasemin is the group’s lead guitarist and a fan of Blues legend BB King and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. “I actually wish to see and produce music with him,” says Yasemin on her dream to satisfy Gilmour, earlier than crooning a observe by King.
As she tunes her sturdy wood guitar together with her reliable purple decide, Yasemin turns in direction of her bandmates and guides them in adjusting theirs.
The ladies discovered to play the guitar at Miraculous Love Youngsters, a music college for kids in Kabul arrange in 2016 by Lanny Cordola, a rock musician from California. The ladies, whose first language is Dari, additionally discovered to talk primary English from Cordola in Kabul, the place they attended common college as properly.
Their world was turned the other way up when the Taliban re-took energy on August 15, 2021, after 20 years. The ladies had been afraid to step outdoors their properties following a spate of restrictions imposed on ladies. Cordola, who left Kabul for Islamabad the day the Taliban returned to energy, started hatching plans to pluck his college students and their households out of Afghanistan so the ladies may proceed to pursue their music goals.
After months of lobbying donors for funding and negotiating with brokers who promised to assist the households escape, Cordola lastly managed to get seven of his college students out, to Islamabad, in April 2022. Whilst he continued to show them there, Cordola labored in direction of finally resettling them and their households in america, which had introduced a programme to absorb Afghan allies and refugees who needed to flee Taliban rule.
Three of the seven ladies had been relocated to the US over the previous few months. Yasemin, Zakia, Shukriya and Uzra – and their households – had been speculated to fly on February 5.
“It felt like we had every part in place. They [the US government] did all their medical assessments, vetting, screening and interviews. We had the date,” says Cordola.
Then Donald Trump took workplace.
Virtually instantly, Trump issued a collection of govt orders, together with one which suspended all refugee programmes for 90 days. “Now, it’s all new once more,” Cordola says, including that the “devastating” transfer has postponed the relocation plans “indefinitely”.
However issues would get even worse.
On March 7, the Pakistani authorities introduced its personal plans to deport all Afghan nationals, even these with correct documentation, again to their nation by June 30.
For these Afghan refugees hoping to relocate to a Western nation – like Yasemin, Zakia, Shukriya and Uzra – the deadline to go away Pakistan is much more imminent: Islamabad has stated it’s going to start deporting them on April 1.
‘Lady with a guitar’
To assemble at Yasemin and Uzra’s home for follow, Cordola picks Zakia and Shukirya up in a van from their house a couple of blocks away.
“We practise for about three to 4 hours,” says Cordola.
In a floral lilac gown and a white scarf, Zakia’s slender fingers hit the chords on her guitar, which bears her preliminary, Z. She faucets her toes to match the rhythm – Chris Martin of Coldplay is her favorite musician.
Her youthful sister, Shukriya, sporting a double braid with two strands of hair resting on her rosy cheeks, is keen on American musician Dave Matthews, but in addition has a tender spot for South Korean band BTS and its singer, RM.
“RM is my favorite. I like his dancing and rapping… it’s lovely,” says Shukriya, as her instructor, Cordola, shakes his head in disbelief – and delicate disapproval.
Uzra, Yasemin’s youthful sister, wears a lime-coloured sport watch on her left wrist, a sequinned teddy bear sweatshirt and black, patterned trousers, as she grips her smaller guitar. She struggles to climb on to the chair, then breaks into tender, husky vocals. “She is a traditional seven-year-old in quite a lot of methods. However when she is within the studio, she could be very, very targeted. I can’t joke together with her when she is in there,” says Cordola about his youngest scholar.
Then Cordola joins them within the jam session, strumming his black guitar. The ladies nod in tandem and break into “Lady with a Guitar”, their very own authentic, instrumental music.
Apply ends at 1pm, and the ladies go about the remainder of their day – having lunch, praying, serving to their moms with chores and spending time with their households.
Uzra, Yasemin says, is associates with the neighbours’ youngster, and all the time finds methods to step out of the home to play together with her. Virtually on cue, the little guitarist dashes out of the room.
Turning ‘Unstoppable’
On days when the ladies handle to search out some leisure time for themselves whereas the solar remains to be out, they and their siblings go to Islamabad’s parks and amusement areas with their instructor.
Cordola picks them up in his white Suzuki excessive roof, and so they head out to the favored picnic spot Daman-e-Koh within the Margalla Hills or a vacationer favorite, Pakistan Monument on the Shakarparian Hills.
The inexperienced F-9 Park can also be a favorite. There, Zakia sits on its recent, dewy grass whereas Uzra enjoys swaying from side to side on the swings. Shukriya is dreaming of visiting a close-by meals road, the place she’s hoping for a deal with – pani puri, soup, ice cream and the traditional samosa. Yasemin says she’s a fan of rice and loves consuming daal chawal (lentils with rice). To Zakia, rooster biryani and pani puri are the perfect meals that Pakistan has to supply.
However music is what makes the ladies happiest – and is what made it attainable for them to attach with a number of Grammy-nominated Australian singer and songwriter Sia.
After they recorded a rendition of her feminine empowerment anthem, Unstoppable, in 2024, the Aussie vocalist despatched the ladies a particular message praising their expertise.
“Thanks a lot for singing ‘Unstoppable’ and in your assist. I like you a lot. I like you a lot. I actually really feel for what you’re going via,” she stated in a video message to the ladies.
The video of Sia’s observe is shot with the ladies singing towards the backdrop of lush inexperienced parks and atop the Shakarparian Hills. The music was recorded on the studio of Pakistani file producer Sarmad Ghafoor, a buddy of Cordola’s. The music was launched on March 18.
On the time they recorded the music, three ladies from Cordola’s Kabul college who’ve now moved to the US had been additionally with Yasemin, Zakia, Shukriya and Uzra in Islamabad.
“We needed to change our costumes in between the shoot and it was difficult to do it on the areas, however we managed to do it by overlaying up for one another and likewise having enjoyable the entire time,” recollects Shukriya.
When Sia reacted to their efficiency in a video message for them, the ladies couldn’t imagine it.
“She is somebody who didn’t have to make a video for us, however she did. She is a extremely variety and inspirational lady,” says Yasemin. “She spoke together with her coronary heart and gave us quite a lot of hope. Typically we lose hope and suppose that we gained’t be capable to do what we wish to do in life. However her highly effective phrases actually impressed and motivated us.”
Promoting sweet to strumming a guitar
Nothing about Yasemin’s life in the present day resembles what it did seven years in the past, when she first met Cordola.
At his college, Cordola “needed to concentrate on ladies’ schooling and rights”, he says. “It’s schooling via the humanities.” He satisfied the dad and mom of a number of youngsters who labored on the streets, particularly these of ladies, to permit them at his music college.
He first met Yasemin at a park the place she offered sweet and chewing gum, whereas her father washed vehicles close by.
“I used to be 11 years outdated once I first met Mr Lanny in 2017,” Yasemin recollects. “I first noticed Mr Lanny within the park with quite a lot of youngsters. On the time, I didn’t speak to him as a result of I used to be very shy and likewise afraid of seeing individuals gathered in a single place. The worry of an explosion in such an area was all the time in my thoughts.”
Finally, Cordola reached out to her via one other lady, gave her 150 Afghanis ($2.11) and requested her to go to the music college together with her father. “I used to be hesitant at first, however a buddy named Yalda was already going to the varsity, so I went to Miraculous together with her. After I held the guitar for the primary time there, it felt zabardast (superior),” she recollects.
Yasemin’s father initially didn’t need her to hitch the music college, nervous about how it will be considered within the conservative Afghan society. “However later when he received accustomed to Mr Lanny, he agreed to it,” she says.
Cordola recollects that Yasemin’s father gave in when he discovered that his daughter wouldn’t have to work within the park any extra. “I gave a month-to-month stipend to the youngsters who did properly on the college,” he says.
Fauzia, Yasemin and Uzra’s mom, was completely satisfied when her daughter started finding out music. “I felt good as a result of [through the guitar] she [Yasemin] needed to rely on herself for her future. Now, I really feel proud that she isn’t solely doing this for herself but in addition for many who want assist.”
She was nicknamed Jellybean by Cordola after being confused with one other lady with the identical title on the Kabul college. “When Mr Lanny referred to as our title ‘Yasemin’, each of us would reply to him. This induced quite a lot of confusion,” she chuckles.
In the identical neighbourhood during which Yasemin and her father labored, Zakia and her father used to promote sunflower seeds. Cordola gave Zakia a visiting card and informed her to go to the music college together with her father, 52-year-old Muhammad Sabir.
“The subsequent day, I went there with my father to Miraculous. There, I noticed the guitars and different ladies enjoying it. I actually favored it. Initially, my mom didn’t permit me as a result of she was sceptical and scared about Mr Lanny. However I insisted on making an attempt my luck. After I went there, I started practising the guitar and drawing, and by no means went again to the hill to work once more,” says Zakia.
Shukriya, who first visited the varsity together with her elder sibling out of curiosity, was so fascinated by the guitars that she too quickly joined Cordola’s rising class.
Their father, Cordola recollects, was excited on the concept of sending his daughters to his music college. “Zakia’s father was smiling once I first met him. He requested, ‘Can we come now?’ However I informed him to return the subsequent day. He got here the subsequent day and stated, ‘that is nice.’”
A tall Sabir smiles as he recollects that point. Sitting at his residence in Islamabad, he says he was “completely satisfied for the youngsters and supported them to play the guitar”.
“I favored music myself earlier than I even met Mr Lanny,” says Sabir. “When the chance got here, I didn’t need my daughters to lose it. It was for his or her higher future.”
All of it modified with the Taliban’s return.
Escaping the Taliban – and ready on Pakistan
Abruptly, the ladies had been afraid to go away their properties following a spate of restrictions imposed on ladies. “When the scenario in Afghanistan worsened, I informed the ladies to not use it (the guitar). The Taliban don’t permit music and contemplate it haram (forbidden). I hid Shukriya’s small guitar and broke Zakia’s as a result of it was larger,” says Sabir.
Yasemin recollects one time when she stepped out to go to the bazaar.
“I wasn’t carrying a masks and the Taliban pointed a gun at me asking me to put on it proper there after which,” she says, referring to a face veil. “It was actually onerous, particularly for ladies in Afghanistan.”
Cordola, in the meantime, labored with donors to boost cash to get passports made for the households of his college students, and to rent guides to carry them to the border – after which throughout into Pakistan.
After many false begins, the seven ladies and their households lastly made it to Pakistan in April 2022. Right now, Cordola funds their hire, bills – and the ladies’ guitars – via donations.
However all of these efforts now seem in danger.
In recent times, Pakistan has stepped up its deportation of Afghan refugees – a few of whom have spent most or all of their lives in Pakistan.
Pakistan deported 842,429 Afghan refugees, per the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), between September 2023 and February 2025.
In keeping with Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs, about 40,000 Afghans in Pakistan await resettlement after “virtually 80,000” had been welcomed by completely different nations. At the very least 10,000 to fifteen,000 among the many refugees nonetheless in Pakistan had been cleared for resettlement within the US, in response to #AfghanEvac, a coalition of US veterans and advocacy teams, earlier than Trump blocked their transfer.
Philippa Candler, the nation consultant of the UNHCR, in a press release stated: “Compelled return to Afghanistan may place some individuals at elevated threat. We urge Pakistan to proceed to offer security to Afghans in danger, regardless of their documentation standing.”
Shawn VanDiver, who heads #AfghanEvac, stresses the necessity for the US authorities to fulfil its guarantees. “Our nationwide commitments can’t be conditional and non permanent. Nations around the globe are by no means going to belief the phrase of the US if our presidents can’t be counted on to hold out the commitments they’ve made,” he says. “That is simply outrageous.”
He additionally has an enchantment to the federal government of Pakistan.
“The 90-day mark [when Trump’s pause on refugee resettlement ends] is round April, so we wish Pakistan to present them [Afghans] a little bit bit of additional time. We hope they may however we haven’t gotten any optimistic indications via motion, solely phrases. All of the motion we’re seeing is adverse,” says VanDiver.
“If nothing modifications these individuals [Afghans] are in actual bother.”
Asmat Ullah Shah, the Pakistan authorities’s chief commissioner for Afghan refugees in Islamabad, says Afghan nationals awaiting resettlement maintain no authorized standing as per Pakistani regulation.
However, he insists, authorities haven’t taken any motion towards them as a result of embassies and worldwide organisations have dedicated to shifting them to different nations.
“When issues started to extend, affecting Pakistan’s safety, a timeframe was set for these embassies to fulfil their commitments and guarantee resettlement. However, some have evaded their guarantees,” he says.
Whereas a court docket has given reduction till the tip of June to some Afghan refugees in Pakistan, that doesn’t cowl the 4 guitarist ladies and their households, who don’t have the documentation wanted for that non permanent reprieve.
Saeed Husain, a founding member of the Joint Motion Committee for Refugees (JAC-R), an advocacy platform for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, blames the disaster on Western nations that had promised to absorb Afghan refugees however haven’t processed purposes of these nonetheless in limbo in nations like Pakistan.
“Their lives have been on pause for the final 4 years. They haven’t been capable of get an schooling or discover jobs,” he says, including that Pakistan’s transfer to now ship these refugees “again to Afghanistan is actually giving them a demise sentence”.
A letter to Trump
Once they discovered about Trump’s pause on refugee entries, after which Pakistan’s plans to deport Afghans, the ladies say they couldn’t imagine the information.
“We had been disillusioned many occasions after getting hopes of going overseas. We’d be ready to listen to excellent news, however would then discover out that it might’t occur,” Yasemin says. “However the current information was nonetheless very stunning to us.”
The ladies and their households know that going again to Afghanistan would possible imply giving up on music for good.
Zakia says she needs to develop into knowledgeable guitarist. She’s nonetheless unhappy about her father breaking her earlier guitar out of worry it will be discovered by the Taliban. “That night time was very onerous for me. I cried loads,” she says. However after arriving in Pakistan, all the ladies acquired new guitars from their instructor.
In the meantime, Shukriya misses going to the music college again house. “I miss the time in Kabul after we performed collectively, talked (to our associates) after follow and ate collectively,” she says, recalling what she is aware of she gained’t be capable to relive if she had been to return to Kabul now.
However Cordola and the ladies refuse to surrender.
The instructor has been reaching out to musicians and folks with contacts within the US authorities to make the relocation attainable.
“I’m sending out messages to individuals who can maybe contact the higher echelons within the American authorities. The ladies have collaborated with among the most well-known musicians within the US and UK. We aren’t searching for additional favours, however to get them alternatives,” he says.
Cordola says he has additionally written an open letter to Trump on behalf of the younger musicians, urging the US president to permit them into the nation.
In his letter, the musician wrote that if the ladies are denied the prospect to resettle to the US, they are going to be deported again to Afghanistan, the place they are going to be prone to being subjected to “imprisonment, and even punishment by demise”.
“They’re able to assimilate and contribute. They don’t seem to be there to take. They wish to be part of the American dream,” he says. “We’re prepared to go and play a little bit live performance for President Trump if he would have an interest.”
The ladies, Cordola provides, is also relocated to different nations which can be “prepared to welcome them and supply authorized and protected residence”, including {that a} main advocate for feminine Afghan musicians is all for relocating them to Northern Eire’s Belfast, a UNESCO-recognised metropolis for its music.
Most of all, the ladies simply wish to keep collectively – in whichever a part of the world could have them.
“After I’m out of right here, it’s my dream for all the ladies to return collectively and stand sturdy on our toes. I can’t do it alone. When all of us ladies come along with Mr Lanny on the identical place, we are going to do one thing,” says Yasemin.
Fauzia, Yasemin and Uzra’s mom, says she is grateful to Pakistan for internet hosting them. However she is aware of that the household’s future hinges on Western governments giving them sanctuary quickly. “Our lives had been in danger in Afghanistan and even in Pakistan there isn’t a peace. Whether or not it’s the US or every other authorities, we request assist for these whose lives are in peril,” she says.
Till then, the ladies have their guitars, their music and their goals to dwell with.
“Each time I’m unhappy, I maintain my guitar and neglect all the unhappiness,” says Yasemin. “It has modified my life.”
