Afghans in shadows

It’s late but never too late. The decision to send back illegal Afghans settled in Pakistan had been pending for ages. Perhaps, no political dispensation had the courage to take a step in that direction, for reasons of geo-strategic exigency. At the same time, it goes without saying that Pakistan’s Afghan policy is on the rocks, and decades of appeasement and patronage had served no purpose. The disgust and animosity noticed in relations with Kabul is a case in point, and that unfortunately spans the Taliban administration too. The government’s deadline for such pupils to exit the country by November 1 comes as a challenge, and the onus is on Pakistani authorities to see to it that it is implemented in letter and spirit, and does not pass away as another unkept promise.

Illegal immigrants are spread across the length and breadth of Pakistan, and it is difficult to comb them instantly. Gone are the days when Afghans used to live in makeshift camps, as now they are very much part and parcel of our national mosaic. Moreover, the last four decades have seen a generation of Afghans grow and prosper, and many have left for safer pastures ironically on Pakistani identity. In such a scenario, it is an uphill task to screen and expel more than two million illegal refugees currently inside the country. But the decision is a well-considered move and has come at an opportune time, as both the states are in a tirade of resetting their ties. Cracking down on cross-border adventurists, smugglers and human-traffickers is an instant necessity, and should not be delayed or shelved under any pretext.

The remnants of the Afghan influx are in need of being dealt with in a careful manner. The sudden pronouncement and the vengeance has been strongly noticed by Kabul, and it should not graduate into a row. International agencies as well as Afghan and Pakistani authorities must devise a return-home package, and ensure that men in shadows come ahead to volunteer themselves for starting a new life in their liberated homeland. A cherished hospitality spanning decades must have a happy ending.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2023.

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