The situation for Afghan refugee families has been incredibly tough following Pakistan’s decision to repatriate ‘foreign’ nationals without valid documents. The government’s initiative to send back ‘foreign’ nationals began in October 2023, and recently, the deadline for deporting ‘illegal’ Afghan nationals has been extended to June 30, 2025. In Islamabad, the federal cabinet granted a one-year extension following a request was made by senior UN official Mr Filippo Grandi to extend the validity of 1.45 million Afghan refugees’ POR (proof of registration) cards, which were expired on June 30, 2024. It has provided some breathing room for Afghan families, but a long-term solution remains elusive. Like others, Afghan women, as victim of this power struggle, also face an uncertain future. The ongoing restrictions imposed by the Afghan ‘rulers’ make it difficult for female refugees to return to their homeland and rebuild their lives amid tough conditions in Afghanistan, which is reeling under a severe economic crisis. They fear for their lives due to restrictions imposed on women by the Afghan ‘administration’, all in the name of their own interpretation of religious norms. The Pakistan’s government is urging Afghan refugees to leave the country. These challenging circumstances are deeply impacting social dynamics of communities, leading to the breakdown of numerous families, particularly in areas where intermarriages between Pakistanis and Afghans have occurred. The majority of intermarriage cases are located in particular areas of the Pakhtunkhwa province. According to reports, 1.5 million Afghan refugees are officially residing in Pakistan, while a comparable amount ‘illegally’ reside in various regions of the state. Another point to be considered is how Afghan nationals living in Pakistan are treated. They often face disrespect because they are ‘outsiders’. It’s shameful for our society to mistreat refugees. We often demand that Western countries respect refugees from Asia, yet we fail to uphold those same moral principles in our treatment of Afghan refugees. There’s no justification for the unjust treatment inflicted upon Afghan families.
It’s intriguing that only 33 countries in the world, including Pakistan, have unrestricted birthright citizenship, also known as jus soli, while another 32 nations have some form of restricted birthright citizenship. Despite enacting a law in 1951 stating that every person born on Pakistani soil shall be deemed a citizen of Pakistan, the implementation has never taken place. Even an announcement by former prime minister Imran Khan in September 2018 to grant citizenship to all newborn babies of Afghan and Bangladeshi families has not been fulfilled. The government must refrain from acting rashly in order to repatriate the displaced people to Afghanistan. A thorough assessment of the impact of this policy decision on Afghans with families and businesses in Pakistan is essential. In the 1990s, Afghanistan experienced devastating regional conflicts, leading to the displacement of Afghans who sought refuge in neighboring countries. Despite their long-standing presence and positive contributions to Pakistan’s national economy, these Afghan refugees are often treated as ‘outsiders’, unable to fully integrate into the fabric of their host country. There are even generations of Afghans born and raised in Pakistan who have never known any other home but continue to face marginalization. Due to the lack of citizenship, Afghans are unable to access formal services like healthcare and education. The district administrations and police are often accused of mistreating Afghan nationals. Afghans long to return to their homes, yearning for the day when they can fulfill their ultimate dream of being reunited with their roots. It is crucial for Afghan refugees to be treated with compassion, empathy, and dignity, rather than facing scorn, suspicion, and mere handouts. They deserve to be assured of respect, security, and a safe passage back to their homeland. Afghans residing in Pakistan with families – children in schools, and established businesses – should be allowed to carry on with their lives in their second home.