At the beginning of April, Pakistan’s government began a massive repatriation campaign. In the aftermath, more than 80,000 Afghan nationals were kicked out of their home country. Pakistani authorities began deportations of Afghans after announcing a deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave the country. Originally due on March 31, they subsequently got as far as moving the deadline to April 30. With this move, the government is trying to quell increasing fears about illegal immigration and safety within its borders.
To ease the return, the Pakistani government has set up interim holding centers in several Pakistani cities. These facilities offer refuge for Afghan evacuees. They then wait to be transferred to the Torkham crossing, which is the main international border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The repatriation efforts have already alarmed Afghan families. Most of these families have been in Pakistan for 70 years and even longer, having established intricate lives that are deeply interlaced with the fabric of local communities.
Background of Afghan Nationals in Pakistan
Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, millions of Afghans have been uprooted by an ongoing cycle of war and strife. In kind, Pakistan has given them refuge. Literally millions Afghan nationals—including Tajiks, Pashtuns, and Uzbeks—took refuge in Peshawar. Alongside their impact on the local economy by working in markets and restaurants, they’re helping the environment. The century-old settlement of Afghan families has produced deep and lasting intermarriage with other Michiganders. This has led to such strong social bonds that the process of repatriation has become contentious.
The majority of repatriated Afghans today are not refugees in the classic sense. Nonetheless, we do not yet know the number of undocumented Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan. According to estimates, the federal government’s focus on removing undocumented residents would affect many more people. This begs immediate questions around the humanitarian impact of a mass deportation.
In addition, for those who were able to return to Afghanistan, their future is far from certain. Afghan nationals express deep concerns over the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls, including a ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade. Few people are as acutely aware of this problem as the families considering their return. Parents are just as worried about the safety and prospects that await their daughters.
Concerns About Life in Afghanistan
The fears of Afghan nationals go beyond limits on education. Most importantly, many of these returning families are deeply concerned about their future job opportunities inside Afghanistan. This issue further calls into question their capacity to be self-sufficient. Since the Taliban took over again in August 2021, Afghanistan has become an emergency with deteriorating socio-economic conditions. Now millions are worried about how they will live when they do come back home.
The United Nations refugee agency sounded the alarm about those returnees, who are most vulnerable. This patchwork net catches women, religious minorities, journalists, artists and many other human rights defenders. These marginalized communities experience increased vulnerability amidst Afghanistan’s current environment, in which deeply repressive policies have led to the widespread violation of basic freedoms.
Despite these fears, more than 35,000 Afghan nationals have returned home to Afghanistan through Torkham crossing since the beginning of April. While the government has maintained firm messaging regarding deportations, the pace of these deportations appears to have slowed compared to previous phases, suggesting a potential shift in policy or logistical challenges.
The Humanitarian Impact of Repatriation
The mass repatriation campaign misses some crucial humanitarian questions. For families who are now back in Afghanistan, the future remains dark, filled with a lack of security and economic opportunities. The Pakistani government’s decision to repatriate Afghan nationals has sparked debates about the responsibilities surrounding displaced populations and refugee welfare.
As this future is played out, countless Afghan households are still stuck in limbo between their connections to Pakistan and the harsh conditions in their country. Their return is made more complex by their own personal dilemmas. It further underscores ongoing concerns about the state of international migration governance and humanitarian norms.
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