Afghans ordered out of Pakistan as 'diversion' in militant fight

Thousands of Afghans unnerved by threats of arrest and growing hostility have flocked out of Pakistan back home


Reuters February 18, 2015
PHOTO: INP

TORKHAM: Afghan immigrants ordered out of Pakistan in what officials say is a bid to root out militants are, some analysts say,  scapegoats being used to distract attention from the authorities' failure to end violence.

Thousands of Afghans unnerved by threats of arrest and growing hostility towards them have flocked out of Pakistan back home, leaving behind boarded-up shops, houses and restaurants.

Within hours of a December 16 attack on a school in the city of Peshawar in which more than 150 people were killed, officials pointed the finger at Afghanistan and vowed to crack down on illegal immigrants whom they say furnish a cover for militants.

Thousands of Afghans have since left, with long queues of cars loaded with belongings snaking through the Khyber Pass up to the border.

Many more are packing their bags in Peshawar and preparing to leave.

Shahkirullah Sabawoon, an Afghan clothes merchant in Peshawar, described a grim atmosphere as he prepared to leave.

"Pakistan is our second home and we have invested billions of rupees in different businesses but police ... are asking us to shut our businesses and leave the country," he said.

He said many in the community were too afraid to visit the market and check their shops for fear of being arrested.

"We have made up our minds to leave Pakistan and move our businesses to Afghanistan but it's not an easy task," he said.

Samina Ahmed, South Asia project director at the International Crisis Group, said the authorities were using Afghan refugees as a scapegoat, even though it is possible that some Taliban might surreptitiously mingle in Afghan refugee communities.

"It is so easy to exploit them. They have no legal framework to protect them," she said.

"Targeting Afghan refugees is a diversion."

Afghans going home

There are more than three million Afghans living in Pakistan, many of whom migrated in the 1970-80s during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Later, thousands followed  after the hardline Taliban came to power.

Although some have proper registration papers, many are undocumented, making them vulnerable to police intimidation.

After decades in Pakistan, many have lost contact with relatives in Afghanistan, making their return even more worrying as Taliban militants step up their campaign following the withdrawal of most US-led troops in December.

The International Organisation for Migration said more than 22,000 undocumented Afghans flocked across the border at Torkham in January, more than twice the figure for the whole of 2014.

Almost 1,500 others were deported in the same month, double the number of deportees in December.

Pakistani officials say they only target those who have no proper papers or are involved in crime.

During the crackdown, police have even recovered illegal weapons from unregistered Afghans," said Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, a provincial government minister.

"Some of them were involved in crime and terrorism." Ajmal Khan, 38, was seven years old when his parents moved to Pakistan to flee Soviet invaders.

He is now a father of six and owns a restaurant in Peshawar which he sees as home.

He is anxious about what awaits him when he gets back to his home town in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

Half his family have already gone.

"I love Peshawar ... It has given us shelter for these long years," he said, adding that a court had ordered his deportation even though he had valid paperwork.

"As soon as I sell the restaurant, I will leave Pakistan with the rest of my family."

COMMENTS (15)

proud pashtun | 9 years ago | Reply Sir, we all know that there are 3 million afghans living in pakistan but believe you me that these people can't even tolerate 3 Pakistanis working or visiting Afghanistan. This is something i have personally experienced while working for 4 years in Afghanistan. You would be shocked to see the hatred towards Pakistan even from women and children. And then there are Pakistanis praising Afghanistan and pashtun connection and greater pakhtunkhwa i fail to understand the mentality. I mean love thy neighbour but it shouldn't overcome the love for ones own country. Afghans should now go back to their own country with respect. All the so called politically correct bloggers and journalists should know that Pakistan does not need a December 16 to tell aliens to leave us alone. When would they leave if not NOW? The perfect time didn't come in last 30 years? We the pakistanis should cherish and thank Allah that no matter how corrupt and poor our country is, its ours. We should all rise and think above being pashtun, punjabi, sindhi, balouch, shia, sunni, Christian, hindu. WE are all proud Pakistanis, even the haters love to live here ;) Not only the grass is green on our side but also the blood. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!
objective observer | 9 years ago | Reply @zara: Zara, there is a point at where pushing ridiculous propaganda makes you seem like you need medical help. Please be aware of that.
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