Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Face Forced Deportations Amidst Rising Tensions

The recent expulsion of Afghan migrants from Pakistan has sparked concern for families, with many individuals facing uncertain futures in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Every night in the vibrant port city of Karachi, Fatima Bibi is filled with dread as the sound of police sirens echoes outside her home. Her husband, Sher Zada, an Afghan refugee, has called Pakistan home since his family fled conflict in Afghanistan in 1992. Despite dreams of securing permanent residency through their marriage, the Pakistani government has ordered him to leave, igniting fears of family separation.

With the March 31 deadline for undocumented Afghans to find new refuge long passed, approximately 80,000 Afghans, many of whom lived for years in Pakistan, have already been deported. The deportations pose significant risks as these individuals may face dire conditions under Taliban rule upon their return to Afghanistan. “What will happen to my children and me if Zada is taken away?” Ms. Bibi lamented, expressing her deep concern for her family's future amidst this turmoil.

These deportations are occurring alongside heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, as diplomatic skirmishes escalate, primarily due to recent terrorist attacks in Kashmir. Indian authorities have mandated the departure of nearly all Pakistani citizens from their territory, prompting retaliation from Islamabad where visas for Indian nationals have been canceled.

As the situation develops and the repercussions of these policy decisions unfold, families like Ms. Bibi's confront a harrowing reality, challenging the narrative of refuge and safety that many sought when they first arrived in Pakistan.