Daily Times

Migration is central to Pakistan and its creation. 1947 led to one of the largest migrations in human history. India’s independence was a bloody event through which millions of people suffered physical violence, religious hatred and bigoted nationalism.

Partition remains a dilemma for those who have experienced migration first hand. It is difficult for those who experienced Partition to ever see its event positively. ‘Immigrant’ is not a desirable identity for anyone in Pakistan if they have gone through forced migration as immigrants are still identified and stigmatized as ‘muhajirs’ despite the lapse of 70 years since Partition.

However, today’s global reality is claiming a change in perception, reception and handling of migration both as a category of practice and as a category of analysis. On January 11th, in a briefing at a United Nations Head Quarters in New York; Secretary General António Guterres shared his report ‘Making migration work for All’.

The report which is the Secretary-General’s contribution to the process of developing the Global Compact for Migration. It is envisioned as a game changer for guiding the ways in which the international community will deal with migration from now on, by ensuring constructive international cooperation. Global compact is going to be the first agreement of its own kind which will guide governments to manage international migrations. The report which has taken the lead from the New York declaration, emphasizes its links to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It highlights options for Member States to help migrants fulfil their economic and social potential; offers steps to promote regular migration; and recommends policies to meet legitimate security considerations of Member States for irregular migration. It also explores the specific challenges arising from large mixed movements of migrants and refugees.

First, the Secretary General stressed about making migration a positive global phenomenon by maximizing its economic benefits; using migration to reduce inequality; and to stage migration as a tool to promote diversity. Migration thus can help fight racism and xenophobia. He proposed in his report that these goals can be achieved through a ‘people centric’ approach. Therefore, it is better to look for legal pathways that make migrations orderly and facilitate the migration process through the countries of departure, transit and arrival. Thus, the refugee protection regime needs to be in line with international law. Global compact is expected to pursue a state of tolerance rather than encourage illegality which comes with strict migration laws and poses a direct challenge to state authority.

No doubt, this report and global compact can be a ray of hope in many ways but a fruitful implementation of these policies remains questionable keeping in view post-Trump immigrant policies in America. Recent migrant issues include the Salvadoran immigrants, Rohingaya Muslim crises, Syrian refugees who decided to use their bodies as the sites of protest when refused entry in the country after long life threatening journeys. Obviously the UNHCR is well aware of these obstacles and their proposed solution is to combat global challenges through partnerships that maximize the benefits of migration for all in the pursuit of SDG’s, universal human rights and security.

Secondly, the special representative to the Secretary General said, there should be better data collection so that we have more facts and less assumptions. This will help reduce the exploitation of labour immigrants and vulnerable immigrants who suffer through the stigma and abuse of illegality. Hence, the global community can work together to turn this human tragedy caused by policy failures into a rewarding circumstance through legal pathways..

Today’s global reality is claiming a change in perception, reception and handling of migration both as a category of practice and as a category of analysis

Third, in response to the comments of country representatives, the Secretary General mindfully recalled the fact that many countries cannot even sustain without migrants. Hence it is very clear that migration is inevitable in today’s world, and it is better to efficiently manage it in order to avoid situations where migration becomes a first weapon for war, climate change and racial hatred.

This can’t get more relevant to Pakistan as the return of Afghan refugees has become a problematic process for Pakistan government. The decision for 30-day extension has be received with much criticism and exposed the lack of any strategized framework for the tedious task the government has decided to take on. It is quite clear that Afghanistan does not think of Pakistan as a benevolent neighbour. In this situation, if Pakistan continues to advance with its nonsense while dealing with such a sensitive issue about which the global community is becoming more and more concerned at an international level, Pakistan will not only further deteriorate its regional standing but also its reputation will be negatively affected at the international level. Human Rights Watch has called it the ‘Pakistan Coercion, UN Complicity: The Mass Forced Return of Afghan Refugees,’ in its 76-page report enclosing Pakistan’s abuses and the role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in promoting the exodus.

At a time when Washington has already turned its back on Pakistan and Trump administration is openly supporting the bilateral ties between India and Afghanistan, Pakistan needs to take in to consideration the suggestions conveyed by the UNHRC and the current UN report on Global compact to develop a feasible framework while dealing with the problems of Afghan refugees.

The writer is Falak Sufi Scholar at Hagop Kevorkian Centre for Near Eastern Studies. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree at New York University

Published in Daily Times, January 19^th 2018.