Vantage | Why refugee exodus can change Pak-Afghan relations forever

Pakistan has been grappling with a series of grave issues from economic crises to terrorism leaving its population in a state of constant unrest. To address these problems, the Pakistani government has found a new target: Afghan refugees.

Pakistan’s self-inflicted woes Pakistan’s current woes are largely the result of its past decisions. It invested in fostering terrorism and used it as a tool of state policy, which is now coming back to haunt the nation. The consequences of these choices have been a persistent wave of terror attacks, an unstable economy, high inflation and food and power shortages. Afghan refugee situation To divert attention from its domestic issues, Pakistan has chosen to blame Afghan refugees, mostly from Afghanistan. In an attempt to address these problems, Pakistan’s caretaker government set an ultimatum on 3 October, demanding illegal immigrants to leave the country within 28 days or face deportation. This deadline has left tens of thousands of Afghan refugees with no choice but to leave and those who remain live in fear. A 45-year-old Afghan man with no identity documents, Naemullah, said, “If we can arrange the fare, we will leave within five or six days. But it is winter in our region there. Six months are so cold there that God knows how these kids will bear it. Our house there is also broken. We don’t have any rooms where we can live, and living in a tent in winter will be very difficult.” Similarly, a 31-year-old Afghan Woman, Majida Azizullah said, “My husband is too scared to go out. A few days back, I fell sick, my medicine was not available in the nearby market, but he did not go to get medicine. My husband said he could not even go to the dispensary because the police may catch him." Plight of Afghan refugees The dire situation has left many Afghan refugees in despair. The decision to return home comes at a time when winter is approaching, making living conditions in Afghanistan even harsher. Many refugees have lost their homes and livelihoods leaving them with limited options. Karachi-based programme coordinator at Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network, Samar Abbas, said, “There is chaos in the Afghan camps in Karachi and the people are not leaving their homes, they are not leaving their community. The children are not going to their schools, the students are not going to their colleges, the youth are not going to their jobs, people are not going to their businesses because they have a fear of becoming victims of state harassment." Pakistan’s responsibility Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades, but now it is choosing to deport them. While 1.3 million refugees are registered, an additional 1.6 million lack official refugee status. These individuals fear returning to a war-torn Afghanistan, where they may face danger and insecurity. The uncertainty has led to chaos in Afghan refugee camps with people reluctant to leave their homes due to the risk of harassment by authorities. Convenient scapegoat The sudden decision to deport Afghan refugees is a convenient way for Pakistan’s government to divert attention from its failure to address its own terrorism problem. Pakistan has a history of nurturing and supporting terrorist organisations like the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), which has now turned against the nation. The TTP, born and trained in Pakistan, is now actively involved in terrorist activities within Pakistan, with numerous suicide bombings attributed to the group. This is a direct consequence of Pakistan’s earlier support for such extremist organisations. Pakistan’s role in the rise of Taliban Pakistan played a significant role in the rise of the Taliban, especially during the US occupation of Afghanistan in the early 2000s. It provided refuge and support to the Taliban, which ultimately led to the creation of groups like the TTP. The Taliban has tried to mediate between Pakistan and the TTP, resulting in a short-lived ceasefire. However, the Taliban’s efforts have not completely eradicated the problem, leading to Pakistan’s decision to use the refugee issue as a pressure tactic. Troubling bargaining strategy Rather than addressing the root cause of terrorism, Pakistan is using Afghan refugees as a bargaining chip. The government has threatened to deport these refugees, leveraging their fate in negotiations with the Taliban. Pakistan’s message is clear: if Kabul reins in the TTP, Islamabad won’t displace Afghan refugees. The Taliban has condemned Pakistan’s decision to deport Afghan refugees as inhumane and detrimental to Afghan-Pakistani relations. While the tensions between the two sides have been downplayed by Pakistan as mere rivalry between cousins, the situation could take a turn for the worse if the deadline is enforced. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.