The looming deadline for Afghan refugees in Pakistan has sparked anxiety and fear as thousands prepare to leave a country where they've sought safety for decades, confronted with uncertain futures in Afghanistan.
Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Brace for Uncertain Future Amid Deportation Deadline
Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Brace for Uncertain Future Amid Deportation Deadline
As Pakistan sets a deadline for Afghan refugees to leave, many face a challenging return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
In a refugee settlement on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, Afghan families gathered to mark Eid al-Adha this past Sunday, not with celebratory spirits but with a heavy sense of dread. As the deadline approaches for Afghans living in Pakistan to leave the country, their future seems perilous with the prospect of returning to a Taliban-led Afghanistan.
The history of Afghan displacement in Pakistan stretches back to the Soviet invasion in 1979, which propelled millions to seek refuge from ongoing turmoil. Over the years, many have returned home, but cycles of violence and political instability continuously drive new waves of refugees into Pakistan. The most recent surge occurred after the Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021, resulting in the previous U.S.-backed government collapsing and leaving many Afghans without safe options.
Many of these refugees were promised resettlement opportunities in the United States, yet they now face an unexpected mandate for repatriation with a deadline set for March 31. This recent announcement has incited widespread alarm among the Afghan community in Pakistan. “As a fellow Muslim nation and a neighbor, Pakistan should show compassion and grant refugees more time to prepare,” expressed Haji Abdullah Bukhari, a community leader in Karachi. “Uprooting their lives in just a few days is impossible. Many have spent decades here, and now they are being forced to return to a country they barely know."
The Pakistani government’s decision to enforce deportation stems from mounting tensions with the Taliban administration. Islamabad has accused the Taliban of harboring Pakistani militants, particularly from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is believed to be behind a series of violent attacks in Pakistan. Despite the Taliban's denials regarding these allegations, the situation continues to escalate, complicating the already fragile status of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
As the deadline nears, many are left grappling with the reality of returning to a homeland rife with danger and uncertainty.
