As estimated by the Government of Pakistan, there were 1.7 million undocumented/ illegal Afghan nationals living in Pakistan prior to August 1, 2023. This number is besides the documented/ legal Afghan refugees who live in Pakistan since the decade of 1980. The documented refugees are over 2.4 million, living in various parts of Pakistan. They all lived like local Pakistani nationals without any discrimination. Even, the illegal refugees were treated nicely for years and years until there remained uncertainty and instability in Afghanistan. All Afghan refugees were free to travel to any part of Pakistan without any restriction in these long years. Until November 25, 2023, more than 260,000 illegal Afghan nationals have crossed over to Afghanistan from Torkum and Chaman border. They all were provided with every type of facilitation for their honourable return to their homeland.
The final decision to repatriate the illegal refugees was taken in the Apex committee of the National Action Plan (NAP) in a meeting on October 3, 2023. This decision was made for all undocumented and illegal foreign nationals, irrespective of any discrimination. This meeting was chaired by the Caretaker Prime Minister, MrAnwaarulHaqKakar. The decision of Government of Pakistan to repatriate all foreign nationals who don’t hold valid and legal documents is justified and based on international best practices. All such illegal migrants and refugees were given sufficient time to go back to their countries or places of their choice in the stipulated timeframe. Even after the end of deadline the Government devised ahonourable exit of the foreign nationals.
Among the foreign refugees, Afghan nationals were in majority who were living in Pakistan without any legitimate documents or work permit. In the absence of legal documents, it was not possible to track and monitor their activities in various parts of Pakistan. Besides, militancy rises very quickly in some parts of the country with lot of spur and frequency. Not that, these illegal migrants were involved in the militancy and terrorism however it become essential to at least differentiate between those living peacefully and those involved in some militant or any other undesired activities.Government of Pakistan thoroughly deliberated over the decision for their return to their homeland and related issues of sympathy. Indeed, this decision of the Government was based on law of land and keeping in view the safety and security of Afghan nationals and locals as well.
In order to facilitate these illegal migrants, Government has established over forty-nine transit centers to temporarily house around 1.7 million illegal Afghans. Besides, control rooms were set-up at the ministry of interior to monitor the process. The entire process is being monitored and supervised by officers of grade 17 and above. These officers are from various departments like; police, district administration, intelligence agencies, Nadra, Immigration and PDMA. Besides, adequate security arrangements have been made for the safe escort of the Afghan nationals until their border crossings. The welcoming step is that, instead of keeping them in prisons, they are being housed in these transit centers set up in all provinces and Islamabad. All these illegal migrants especially; women, children and elderly people are being kept at these centers with lot of respect and are provided with meals and medical facilities. While this act of Government of Pakistan should have been appreciated, regrettably, some elements within Pakistan and key people from Interim Afghan Government (IAG) have criticized the process. There have been some threatening remarks from some members of IAG of Taliban which is quite disturbing. It is worth mentioning that, there has been a gradual rise of militancy in Pakistan after Taliban led Interim Afghan Government took over the control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The key militant organization carrying out militancy in Pakistan is Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was used to intensify attacks on Pakistani military posts and even on civilian masses. As per estimates, more than 6000 TTP militants are stationed in Afghanistan in various hideouts ever since military operations carried out against them in militancy hit areas of KP and former FATA.
These elements were in the control of former Afghan Government under Ashraf Ghani and their militant activities were planned, directed and executed by Indian RAW and Afghan NDS. After August 2021, TTP stepped up its activities against Pakistan from across the Pak-Afghan border. This is happening despite Taliban Government claims that, Afghan soil will not allowed to be used by any militant organization against any neighboring state. The IAG must take serious actions against TTP and all those terrorists, hiding in Afghanistan and using its soil for militancy against Pakistan. Pakistan desires IAG to stop TTP militancy from Afghan soil.
Pakistan has hosted over 4 million Afghan refugees from the decade of 1980. Only a million plus refugees went back to their homeland since they were treated very nicely with all regards and hospitality. Indeed, there is no precedence of such a gesture of hospitality and openheartedness anywhere in the world. Therefore, Pakistan must be appreciated for accommodating their Afghan brethren for decades and decade. Now once the illegal Afghan nationals are being repatriated to their homeland, Government of Pakistan is ensuring that there is no indecency and manhandling during the process. The people with vested interests in Pakistan and IAG should recognize that, law of the land does not allow anyone to stay in Pakistan without legal documents.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
