KARACHI:
The new Afghan governing body has raised both regional and international concerns. Fear of a revival of terrorism and human rights violations, coupled with the closure of economic institutions have compelled many Afghans to flee the country. Considering that the Taliban’s rule has not been recognised by most countries, Afghanistan will most likely be isolated for now. One hopes that the international community does not cut off economic assistance and diplomatic relations with Afghanistan.
Many Afghans have fled the country in a quest for survival and a significant proportion of them have come to Pakistan. This means that Pakistan will now be required to host and assist refugees. However, Pakistan itself is already facing internal crises such as inflation, political instability, rising extremism, and more. The question that arises is: what have the higher authorities done to manage the situation? The economic conditions of Pakistan are deteriorating by the day. Inflation and lack of employment opportunities have already worsened the conditions for many. In addition, population growth has had a considerable impact on the demography and resources of the country. Political instability has dismantled harmony and unity amongst the people, and brought governance issues.
Given these circumstances, an influx of Afghan refugees will be extremely challenging for Pakistan. If the government fails to handle the matter effectively, it will cause another internal crisis. The government needs to implement rigorous policies and measures to tackle the ongoing and upcoming issue. Refugees must be restricted to camps so that they do not cause any disruptions. Pakistan can only ensure a prosperous future if the government takes visionary steps today.
Ghazanfar Soomro
Shikarpur
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2021.
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