A humanitarian approach

When sending millions of people back to Afghanistan, compassion must not be lost


Editorial June 24, 2015
Pakistan hosts the largest refugee population in the world, with nearly 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees and nearly half a million unregistered ones. PHOTO: AFP

Afghan refugees in Pakistan are constantly kept on tenterhooks as decisions about their future are made by the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the UNHCR, whose chief was in Pakistan this week. The purpose of his visit was to persuade the prime minister and his adviser on foreign affairs to extend the deadline for their repatriation to Afghanistan. The deadlines for repatriation have come and gone several times before and it remains to be seen if Pakistan will extend the date based on the UNHCR recommendations, but for now, the authorities seem determined to complete the repatriation process by December 31. This deadline was put in place following the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar last year.

Pakistani authorities have often been known to directly equate the problem of terrorism to the presence of Afghan refugees. This is a highly unfair correlation. However, it is also true that in a country as populated as Pakistan with scarce resources of gas, electricity and other basic utilities, hosting millions of Afghan nationals is not a small burden. Pakistan hosts the largest refugee population in the world, with nearly 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees and nearly half a million unregistered ones. While the economic burden on Pakistan is a reality, so is the fact that many Afghan nationals living here have only known life in Pakistan. Afghan refugees have been in Pakistan for decades now and have settled here, married here and raised families. To send them back means to uproot them again. If this must be done, all humanitarian considerations need to be taken into account, with their best interests kept in mind. Afghanistan must play its role and make conditions inviting enough to encourage refugees to return voluntarily. The voice of the Afghan refugees is barely ever heard. When sending millions of people back to Afghanistan, compassion must not be lost, and they should only be repatriated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2015.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

COMMENTS (4)

Sami | 8 years ago | Reply Send these ungrateful Afghanis back to Afghanistan. They create hate and violence in Pakistan. Most of them hate Pakistan and love India, they should all be sent to India. I think we should send these ungrateful Afghanis to Afghanistan and host Rohingya Muslims who are suffering persecution in the hands of Buddhist extremists in Burma. The Rohingya Muslims seem more peaceful than Afghanis. Even stranded Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh would be better to host than Afghanis. Its about time we forget about people's skin color and look at whats inside. Only host peaceful people. Afghanis are too violent and full of hate.
Toticalling | 8 years ago | Reply @Khan: Talking of refugees, a lot of Pakistanis have gone abroad to get asylum, not only in rich countries. There are few million living in UK and many many in USA. I have seen in South Africa and other parts of Africa, which are just as poor, Pakistanis applying for asylum. IN South Africa there are more than 1.5 lackhs. Even in Asian countries the number is growing. And these countries have nothing in common with 'our' heritage, culture or religion. Afghans are closely related to us. If these Pakistanis are sent home, i am sure there will be hue and cry by all.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ