As the deportation deadline looms, Afghan refugees fear returning to a country fraught with danger after years in Pakistan.
Afghans in Pakistan Confront Deportation Deadline and Uncertain Futures
Afghans in Pakistan Confront Deportation Deadline and Uncertain Futures
As Pakistan prepares to deport Afghan refugees, communities grapple with the threat of returning to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
In a refugee community on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, Afghan families gathered to observe Eid al-Fitr, an event marked by concern rather than joy. With a looming deadline for deportation, thousands of Afghans, many who have lived in Pakistan for generations, face an uncertain future just a few weeks after the government’s announcement of the mandatory repatriation.
Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, millions have sought refuge in Pakistan from various conflicts and crises that have plagued their homeland. Though some have returned voluntarily over the years, a recent escalation in violence, particularly following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, has exacerbated the crisis. This latest wave of refugees includes individuals who were promised resettlement in countries like the United States but now find themselves at risk of deportation.
“We should be treated with dignity and compassion as a neighboring country,” said Haji Abdullah Bukhari, a local community leader. He expressed concerns about uprooting families, noting that the abrupt deadline of March 31, announced just a month prior, leaves many unable to adequately prepare for such a drastic transition.
The tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly with the Taliban, has become a catalyst for the deportation policy. Pakistan accuses the Taliban regime of harboring militants from groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), implicated in violent attacks within Pakistan. While the Taliban have denied these claims, this has not alleviated the growing frustrations in Pakistan and the urgency to expel Afghan refugees amid security concerns.
As Pakistani authorities prepare for compliance with the deportation measures, questions remain about the safety and stability awaiting Afghan returnees, many of whom have little to no connection to the homeland they are being forced to return to.
Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, millions have sought refuge in Pakistan from various conflicts and crises that have plagued their homeland. Though some have returned voluntarily over the years, a recent escalation in violence, particularly following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, has exacerbated the crisis. This latest wave of refugees includes individuals who were promised resettlement in countries like the United States but now find themselves at risk of deportation.
“We should be treated with dignity and compassion as a neighboring country,” said Haji Abdullah Bukhari, a local community leader. He expressed concerns about uprooting families, noting that the abrupt deadline of March 31, announced just a month prior, leaves many unable to adequately prepare for such a drastic transition.
The tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly with the Taliban, has become a catalyst for the deportation policy. Pakistan accuses the Taliban regime of harboring militants from groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), implicated in violent attacks within Pakistan. While the Taliban have denied these claims, this has not alleviated the growing frustrations in Pakistan and the urgency to expel Afghan refugees amid security concerns.
As Pakistani authorities prepare for compliance with the deportation measures, questions remain about the safety and stability awaiting Afghan returnees, many of whom have little to no connection to the homeland they are being forced to return to.
