Fresh influx of undocumented Afghan refugees

While Pakistan stands on the brink of financial collapse, danger escalates at another front. Large numbers of seemingly unvetted Afghans cross the border daily and infiltrate the cities of Pakistan. As uncertainty surges through Afghanistan itself, many scramble to exit national soil, dreading the authoritarian Taliban rule and harsher subjugation to stricter laws. As violation of human rights, especially women’s rights, are anticipated, the dwindling national spirit seems to be pushing Afghans into leaving their homes. This puts Pakistan – already housing 1.4 million registered refugees, and even more unregistered ones – in a greater crunch amid growing economic uncertainty. Moreover, this fresh influx is a threat to Pakistan’s national security, which the incumbent government seems taking too lightly.

On-arrival visas for Afghans were abolished in 2019 to counter terrorist activities. Currently, Pakistan is issuing but a handful of short-term visas to Afghans, mostly on medical grounds. This has led a desperate population to adopt under-the-counter methods of crossing the border. A rising black market for Pakistani visas has thus flourished as Afghans line the pockets of embassy staff to have their applications furtively processed and enter Pakistan without their records in the database. This is especially concerning as Pakistan may soon find itself witnessing the same calamities it endured during the first decade of the 21st century: bomb blasts and suicide attacks taking hundreds and thousands of innocents lost. How the government is neglecting the gravity of the situation and failing to take adequate counter measures is beyond comprehension.

National security and the war against terrorism have been crucial elements of Pakistan’s policy for the last few years. Ever since Pakistan was placed on the FATF ‘grey list’ in 2018 for failing to actively counter money laundering and terror financing, the previous government led by PTI had been rigorously taking all necessary measures to implement the assigned tasks. The sitting government, led by PML-N, has rather been attempting talks with TTP to tackle the surge in militant attacks on its borders since last year.

Though the two sides have reached a temporary ceasefire, the agendas of both make it improbable that an agreement can be reached: Pakistan wants complete disbandment of the TTP whereas the TTP desires separation of the tribal areas from K-P, implementation of Sharia law in that region, and retreat of the army from their land. The two would likely hit an impasse, which would indeed be in the greater interest of the nation than the government acquiescing to TTP demands. The government, therefore, needs to think of achievable alternatives to guarantee security of its people and to assure the FATF that it stands staunch in its commitment to fight terrorists and insurgents.

The government should no longer turn a blind eye to the influx of unregistered Afghan immigrants, owing to the high probability of terrorists being disguised as innocent civilians. And now, when the FATF is to visit the country to determine Pakistan’s progress, the government needs to take active steps to curtail the issuance of visas through illegal channels. While action against those involved in illegal issuance of visas is a must, the sitting government needs to rethink the ongoing interdict on the issuance of refugee visas instead of transit visas or short-term visit visas for Afghans.

In any case, the country hosts more than a million unregistered Afghans; perhaps it would be in the nation’s interest to start reissuance of refugee statuses to them through proper vetting and registration rather than having unidentified persons roam our streets. To this end, desks should be set up at the border for on-arrival visas to our neighbours to support them in their time of need and to also be aware of all those who always cross our borders. Time to act quickly before the danger escalates any further.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2022.

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