THE soft power concept was coined by Joseph Nye in the 1990s. Nye says soft power is the ability to obtain preferred outcomes by attraction rather than coercion or payment. In contemporary international politics, states do not merely rely on hard power but use soft power too to accelerate their influence. Regrettably, Pakistani leaders are unable to promote soft power causing damage to the national soft image. By analysing the strategic location of Pakistan and Afghanistan from history the soft power including, culture, economic values and dynamics resulted in the tension and tussles between both states.
Meanwhile, in October 2023, the caretaker government decided to deport all illegal or unregistered foreigners, citing concerns about terrorism, as they believe Al-Qaeda terrorists may be hiding in refugee camps. This deportation policy is likely to adversely affect Pakistan’s soft image globally. The mass detention of Afghan refugees by Pakistani police has drawn strong condemnation from political, social and religious intellectuals. Seizing property and livestock, as well as destroying identity documents to expel refugees, is seen as a violation of humanity and Islamic values. Hence, affected refugees compare Pakistan’s actions to oppressive governments, similar to how Israel treats Palestinians in Gaza.
The UN warns that forcibly deporting Afghans could lead to severe human rights violations. This may hinder international organisations or NGO projects within Pakistan. The deportation of Afghan refugees is adversely affecting the economic sector of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi. A significant portion of the working class, about 52.6% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 24.1% in Balochistan and 5.5% in Karachi is Afghan refugees. Their contribution to the informal economy, untaxed and unmonitored, plays a crucial role in the internal economic sector of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The existing tension has societal implications, potentially fostering animosity between societies, Afghans from locals to educated intellectuals, harbour strong negative sentiments towards Pakistan. The Afghan Diaspora thinks that Pakistan first supported the US and NATO wars, and got lots of money for helping Afghan refugees, but now sees poor Afghans as potential terrorists or enemies.
The societal context tarnishes Pakistan’s soft image within the Muslim world. Besides that, several political nationalist parties in the Pashtun belt of Pakistan have expressed solidarity with Afghan refugees, strongly condemning and rejecting the forced Afghan deportations. The involvement of Pashtuns, Pakistan’s second-largest ethnicity, in these protests may lead to a shift in public sentiment against national institutions and can harm Pakistan’s international standing. It further can pose potential threat to the state’s soft image.
Being Muslim countries, both Pakistan and Afghanistan should work together. Pakistan’s recent deportation of Afghan refugees seems somewhat harsh. This treatment could harm Pakistan’s reputation, especially among other Muslim nations that support oppressed Muslims in places like Palestine.
Many Afghan refugees who served as Imams in mosques across Pakistan for the past 40-50 years are also among the victims of the recent deportations. Historically, many shrines of Muslim saints in Pakistan are connected to the Islamic, ethical and political aspects of Pakistan’s education curriculum decisions. It’s a sombre reflection that even Data Gunj Bakhsh, an esteemed figure from the past, might have faced deportation to Afghanistan if he were alive today.
In the current arena, climate change poses an existential threat globally. It requires diplomatic communication. Given that Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbouring countries, they are significantly affected by climate change. These ongoing diplomatic tensions hinder cooperation. Climate change’s effect on Pakistan led to economic losses totalling nearly $31 billion in 2022. Climate diplomacy could help address non-traditional threats among Pakistan and neighbouring countries, including Afghanistan. Arguably, the recent mass detentions of Afghan refugees will affect climate diplomacy.
Pakistan’s decision to deport nearly two million Afghans due to perceived security risks has been criticized by the experts. However, instances of police extortion have instilled fear among registered Afghan refugees. Even those registered with the UNHCR face detention and deportation. Cases, like Khaliq Atifi, a sports journalist, highlight police checkpoints and the need for bribes, ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 Pakistani rupees.
As the saying goes “A close neighbour is better than a distant relative”. Islamabad needs to reassess its foreign policy vis-à-vis Afghanistan. Pashtun residing on both sides of the Durand Line should be used as soft power. Winning the hearts and minds of Afghans will require Pakistan to see Afghanistan from the lens of geo-economic instead of geo-politics. Extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, investing massively in Afghanistan, giving scholarships to Afghan students, making trade with Afghanistan easier, and promoting regional connectivity will foster Pakistan’s soft power.
—The writer is associated with the University of Balochistan, Quetta, and contributes occasionally to the national press.
views expressed are writer’s own.
