Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for the past few decades. However, over time, this hosting has become not only economically burdensome for Pakistan but has also posed a threat to country’s national security due to the influx of migrants.
This situation prompted the federal government to recently approve a decision to deport 1.1 million Afghan migrants residing illegally in Pakistan, primarily due to their involvement in various illegal activities, including terrorism, drug trafficking, smuggling, and funding of terrorist groups. This decision was necessary to safeguard Pakistan’s national security.
When the United States hastily ended the 20-year-long war in Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghans faced uncertainty and decided to leave their country, with a significant number choosing Pakistan as their destination.
The government claims that out of the 7.4 million Afghans living in Pakistan, a significant number have not renewed their residence permits in the first phase, and in the second phase, those with Afghan citizenship will be repatriated, while in the third phase, holders of Proof of Residence cards will also be expelled from Pakistan.
The Ministry of Interior has formulated this plan in consultation with the Afghan government, among others. However, it’s not as straightforward as it may seem.
To protect refugees, there is the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, international agreements that obligate countries, including Pakistan, to not forcibly return refugees to places where their lives or freedom may be at risk. If we talk about the 1951 Convention, it was primarily created to address the issues of refugees resulting from the Second World War. It defines a refugee as someone who, due to events occurring before January 1, 1951, and owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted, is outside the country of their nationality and is unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country.
In contrast, the 1967 Protocol removed the geographical and temporal restrictions of the 1951 Convention, making its provisions apply to any refugee crisis worldwide. In the case of Pakistan, it leverages this international law while opposing any forced repatriation to Afghanistan, as it believes it’s against its interests. However, Afghan refugees who are destitute and cannot work in Pakistan and who do not benefit from Pakistan’s amenities may not perceive it as a loss to return to Afghanistan if there is no danger to their lives and property.
It’s essential to clarify that when refugees return to their homeland, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) assists in their initial settlement, providing economic and social support. This helps destitute Afghan migrants gain benefits from their resettlement.
Here, it’s also important not to overlook the weakness of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Every country that hosts refugees receives assistance from the international community to cover the unplanned expenses, but Pakistan has always lagged behind in seeking this assistance. In fact, then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton openly stated that the United States used Pakistan against the Soviet Union and abandoned it when its work was done, leaving Pakistan to deal with not only Afghan refugees but also extremists and terrorists.
The UNHCR’s data-driven database reveals that Turkey is the largest host country for refugees worldwide, accommodating 3.6 million refugees, 10% of the total number of refugees globally. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the second-largest host country, with 3.4 million refugees, while Colombia has 2.5 million refugees, primarily due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, where the situation has been deteriorating since 2011.
The United Nations provides international assistance to those countries that host migrants through global compacts on refugees and migrants. The purpose of the Global Compact is to reduce pressure on host countries, enhance self-reliance of refugees, expand access to solutions in third countries, and provide support conditions for the voluntary return of refugees to their home countries.
The Global Compact offers a framework for governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that host countries receive the necessary help they require.
When Pakistan, one of the world’s largest countries, did not utilize available resources to the extent required by international laws, it should have presented its case with intelligence, transparency, and sincerity before the international community instead of withdrawing its case. However, the representatives of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs have often presented statements of this kind on the international stage:
میں بھی منہ میں زبان رکھتا ہوں
کاش پوچھو کہ مدعا کیا ہے؟
This claim should place Pakistan before the global fraternity, and no one should question you about hosting millions of Afghan refugees or whether you need financial assistance. If you do, come forward; we provide it. For this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be involved in such comprehensive practical work, as many other countries have been doing for decades.
