THERE is debate on the repatriation or deportation of Afghan refugees, especially undocumented, unregistered and illegal Afghan refugees in Pakistan to Afghanistan. Many things have been said and written. However, three articles published with the same theme and spirit are alarming and mischievous in terms of constitution, law and security of Pakistan. One such article was written by Pervez Hoodbhy under title ‘Scapegoating the Refugees’ published in Dawn on November 18, 2023; other was published in The Hindu “Scapegoating: On Afghan refugees in Pakistan” on November 3, 2023; and another was “Why is Pakistan scapegoating Afghan refugees? Written by Afrasiab Khattak in Voicepk on November 18, 2023. These articles raised a question whether Pakistan has made Afghan refugees as scapegoats or not? The answer will certainly be a ‘not’, simply. The approach adopted in Hindu is biased, illogical and against the spirit of Pakistan’s legal system pertaining to foreigners and illegal immigrants. Similarly, Pervez Hoodbhy’s comparison of illegal Afghan nationals with Palestinians carries no legal, constitutional, rational and moral sense.
The Zionist Israel is an aggressor, oppressor and occupier of Palestinian land and expelled garrisoned Palestinian in a particular area. Unlike this, Afghan nationals left their territory and infiltrated into Pakistan voluntarily. Israel violated all international laws in its treatment of Palestinians. Pakistan always treated Afghan nationals in compliance to global laws and Geneva Conventions. The Pakistani laws – The Foreigners Act, 1949, The Naturalization Act, 1926 and The Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 – do not allow any illegal immigrant or foreigner to acquire or possess any property. Even documented and legal Afghan nationals –Proof of Registration cardholders, Afghan Citizens Cardholders and Pakistani Visa Holders – have limited and restricted privileges. Only PoR Cardholders can possess some property, One Sim, Driving license with conditions. Pervez Hoodbhy’s equating Afghan national with cattle is also derogatory words used for human beings. Pervez Hoodbhy has self-contradictory statements in his articles because, on one side, he states: “TTP and Afghan Taliban savagely attack Pakistan’s army and police almost daily” and, on the other side, he pleads the case of illegal immigrants to stay on Pakistan’s soil despite the fact that Afghan nationals have been reportedly involved in several terrorist activities and even an Afghan national claimed the life of a student of Edward College Peshawar.
In addition to it, Afrasiab Khattak’s abated and scathing criticism on Pakistan’s military leadership is highly eye-brow raising and illogical and against facts and laws of the land. The Government of Pakistan wants a stable Afghanistan. However, does Afghanistan has any moral ground to support Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bases on its soil? Pakistan has time and again recorded its reservations and sought cooperation to eliminate their hideouts in Afghanistan and to stop their infiltration and targeting innocent Pakistanis and their forces. Unfortunately, Afrasiab Khattak has looked the current Afghan repatriation issue from his Pakhtoon’s ethnic perspective. Contrary to it, he ignores the shedding of blood of innocent Pakhtoons on other side of border in Pakistan by Afghan nationals. Unfortunately, nobody ever condemns such barbaric attacks of Pakhtoons in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan.
Reality is that UNO and its agencies did not bother to support such illegal immigrants. The United Nation High Commission for Refugees gives minimal support to only documented Afghan refugees and not to undocumented ones. Second, the Government of Pakistan has announced the voluntary evacuation of Afghan refugees; and in case of non-compliance the Government of Pakistan as per its existing laws will capture and deport such illegal immigrants. Third, the Government of Pakistan has adopted legal approach to deal with the issue of deportation of Afghan refugees instead of unlawful and sentimental (humanitarian). It is global norm that no country allows any other foreign national without proper documentation and visa process. Then how, the global community and other elements expect Pakistan to allow illegal foreigners on its soil. Fourth, the people of Pakistan has perpetual threats to the lives of its people from such illegal immigrants; and the Government of Pakistan constitutionally is responsible to provide security to its citizens by taking all means. Fifth, Afghans’ repatriation issue should not be construed and interpreted as Pakhtoon issue because it is an issue of Afghan people hailing from different languages, ethnic groups, territories in Afghanistan, sects and races.
Pakistan has nothing to do with the current regime’s policies in Afghanistan. America, NATO and India fled away from Afghanistan and left Afghanistan for Islamic Emirates to play on it. Now there is normalcy in Afghanistan as compared to previous regime of Taliban wherein various factions of Afghan were engaged in fighting against each other. It is, therefore, feasible for Afghan nationals to go back and settle in their home country and help build it. The Afghan interim government shall also revisit its policies towards women’s education so as to address the genuine apprehensions of Afghan immigrants. Pakistan has always welcomed the regimes acceptable to majority of Afghan people. Pakistan has observed no change from Afghan soil during American’s occupation and Banana’s regimes during America. Afghan soil was used against Pakistan’s and its security agencies. It is worth to mention, that such biased pieces of writing misguide the innocent Pakistanis. One cannot be astonished on publication of such poisonous words in The Hindu, but very astonishing to give space in a national newspaper against the security of Pakistan. The phenomenon of Scapegoating of Afghan refugees can only be declared as a myth instead of a reality.
—Chairman, Department of Political Science, Islamia College Peshawar
Email: amir@icp.edu.pk
views expressed are writer’s own.
