Daily Times

Pakistan has, generally, experienced little conflict between refugees and locals by allowing refugees free movement within the country. Pakistan has demonstrated unparalleled generosity and hospitality to Afghan refugees for four decades

The Quran recognises the rights of refugees, and entitles them to certain rights, and above all, humane treatment. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) declared brotherhood between the Mahajareen and the Ansar, and stated that rights of migrants were the same as those of their host.

The influx of Afghan refugees started after the invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union in 1979, and it quickly accelerated. Almost four million people fled Afghanistan to take refuge in Pakistan. The second influx of refugees started when there was infighting among various Mujahedeen factions. The third influx started due to drought in 2000. The fourth influx was in 2001 when the United States attacked Afghanistan after 9/11. Pakistan welcomed the refugees on all occasions, whose number, at one point, was estimated to be five million.

The majority of Afghan refugees who came to Pakistan were ethnic Pashtuns, but also included Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras. As Pakistani and Afghan Pashtuns shared a set of values known as Pashtunwali, Afghan refugees were well received in Pakistan. Due to cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic affinities, the Afghan refugees easily integrated into Pakistani society. The majority of Afghan refugees settled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan. After KPK, Balochistan is the second biggest refugee-hosting province.

Despite the fact that Pakistan is neither a signatory to either the 1951 convention that relates to the status of refugees nor signatory to the 1967 protocol, again relating to status of refugees, Pakistan is home to the largest protracted refugees population in the world. Pakistan, unconditionally, hosted millions of Afghan refugees for four decades, while more than 3.9 million have returned to Afghanistan.

According to a report, the overwhelming majority, 62 percent, of Afghan refugees reside in KPK, 20 percent in Balochistan, followed by Punjab and Sindh. Pakistan has 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees, there are also 0.840 million unregistered Afghans who have been documented and issued with Afghan citizen cards. Now they are protracted from any harassment during their temporary stay in Pakistan. The majority of refugees in Pakistan are Pashtuns (82 percent), followed by Tajiks (five percent), Uzbeks (four percent), and Hazaras (three percent). KPK hosts the majority of Pashtun Afghan population, while Balochistan is home to Pashtuns, Uzbeks, Tajiks, and Hazaras.

Despite the fact that Pakistan is neither a signatory to either the 1951 convention that relates to the status of refugees nor signatory to the 1967 protocol, again relating to status of refugees, Pakistan is home to the largest protracted refugees population in the world. Pakistan, unconditionally, hosted millions of Afghan refugees for four decades, while more than 3.9 million have returned to Afghanistan

Since 2005, the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) has worked closely with NADRA for the biometric registration of Afghan refugees. A survey/census was conducted across Pakistan to determine the total number of Afghan refugees in the country, and this was done with the support of UNHCR. After registration, proof of registration (POR) cards were issued. POR cardholders are entitled a legal stay in Pakistan as long as their cards are deemed valid.

Pakistan has, generally, experienced little conflict between refugees and locals by allowing refugees free movement within the country. Still, the presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan has impacted Pakistani society. The refugees not only introduced ethno-demographic imbalance within Pakistan but also security issues. Pashtun refugees to Balochistan created fear among the nationalist Baloch leaders that the continuous inflow of refugees could create a demographic imbalance. During the 1980s, Afghan saboteurs, in the guise of refugees, came to Pakistan. They created tension between Afghan refugees and locals, and carried out terrorist activities in KPK. The continued instability in Afghanistan introduced drugs, a Kalashnikov culture, and crimes in Pakistan..

Many forests were affected because many refugees used wood for cooking, construction and heating purposes. As a result, deforestation increased alarmingly in areas in and around refugee villages like Jungle Pir Alizai and Girdi Jungle in Balochistan. Initially, Afghan refugees were accompanied by more than three million herds of livestock, whose uncontrolled grazing ruined grazing grounds and caused extensive damage to ecology.

The major burden for administration of Afghan refugees was borne by Pakistan. Pakistan paid more than 50 percent of the expenses incurred in the relief work. In the last four decades, Pakistan has spent billions of dollars on hosting Afghan refugees. Pakistan also extended education and health facilities to the refugees. Despite challenges, successive governments of Pakistan maintained a generous policy, and provided refugee children access to public and private schools; children are the future human capital of Afghanistan. At present, in the refugee villages, UNHCR is providing education assistance to children in coordination with SAFRON.

SAFRON also organised skilled development programmes for importing such skills to young male and female refugees that would help them to fund suitable jobs and livelihood opportunities on their return to Afghanistan. Pakistan also responded to health requirements of refugees, later with the help of UNHCR. Pakistan ensured access of refugees to basic health services and also extended the existing health care system.

In 2012, the Solution Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) was developed by Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan with the support of UNHCR; the international community endorsed it. The aim of this strategy was to create a conducive environment in Afghanistan to voluntary repatriation, to build Afghan refugees capital base on livelihood opportunities in Afghanistan, and help and provide assistance to host communities.

The voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees has taken place since the last four decades. Between March 2002 and September 2018,over 5.2 million Afghan refugees have repatriated with the support of UNHCR through the largest voluntary repatriation programme in history. In 2016, there was a sharp increase in return of refugees to Afghanistan because each returnee was paid $400. However, the repatriation has dropped due to a host of reasons.

Firstly, UNHCR is paying only $200 per returnee, since 2017 onwards. Secondly, it is due to non-existence of conducive environment in Afghanistan. And thirdly,it is the non-existence of pull factors,which includes basic facilities like shelter, food, health, education, and livelihood. During his recent visit Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Syed Hussain Alemi Balkhi conveyed that the Afghan government is taking all steps to ensure return of refugees. The Afghan government has also initiated a campaign titled “KapalWatan, GulWatan” for refugees to return to Afghanistan.

The government of Pakistan, also cognizant of Afghan government’s limitations, therefore, always advocates a voluntary and dignified repatriation. A tripartite agreement between Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR guides and regulate the voluntary and gradual repatriation of refugees. In the recently concluded tripartite and quadripartite meetings, all the parties agreed to uphold the principle of voluntary repatriation in dignity, and the Afghan government to make efforts to create an environment conducive to voluntary return.

Prime minister Imran Khan has directed facilitation of Afghan refugees across the country, and has allowed them to open bank accounts so that they can join the formal economy of Pakistan. All operational modalities have been finalised, and the State Bank of Pakistan has circulated guidelines; banks are working on the mechanism to be evolved. Minister of State SAFRONShehryar Khan Afridi emphasised to Afghan refugees, during his visits to refugee villages, “We want Afghans to respect our territorial integrity and geographical boundaries, which are our red lines. Respect our flag and our federating units. Never allow any enemy to raise finger at Pakistan.”

The government of Pakistan has directed all the stakeholders to ensure self-respect and dignity of Afghan refugees. The federal cabinet has extended POR cardholders’ stay until June 30, 2020, and ACC holders to October 31, 2020. Pakistan has become almost a permanent home for Afghan refugees. The second and third generation of Afghan refugees were born in Pakistan; today, the majority of Afghan refugees are children of refugees, and Pakistan is the only country that they really know. 22 members of the Afghan parliament, and the majority of Afghan cricketers are born in Pakistan. The present Afghan ambassador to Pakistan was born in Hangu, KPK.

On the contrary, Afghan refugees in Iran had limited access to public facilities, and have not been able to merge into the Iranian society. At present, 68 percent of Afghan refugees are closely integrated with the mainstream Pakistani population, while 32 percentare living in camps. Pakistan has demonstrated unparalleled generosity and hospitality to Afghan refugees for four decades. It is unfortunate that hosting of refugees is not a very popular idea across the globe. The developed world should come forward, and play its role according to international commitments and United Nation’s conventions.

The writer is a retired brigadier and currently commissioner of the Afghan Refugees Organisation, Balochistan