Afghan Refugees Brace for Uncertain Futures Amid Pakistani Deportation Orders

With a March 31 deadline for Afghan refugees to leave Pakistan, many worry about returning to their home country marked by violence and instability. Community leaders are calling for compassion and more time to prepare for an uncertain future.

In a refugee settlement on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, Afghan families gathered on Sunday to mark Eid al-Fitr, not in celebration, but rather enveloped in trepidation. As the deadline for deportation approaches, those who have built lives in Pakistan for generations are at risk of facing a perilous and uncertain fate in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Since Afghanistan's invasion by the Soviet Union in 1979, millions have sought refuge in Pakistan, fleeing relentless cycles of conflict and turmoil. Despite many returning over the decades, ongoing violence and political instability persists, pushing new waves of refugees across the border. The most recent displacement surge came after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, following the collapse of the U.S.-backed government led by Ashraf Ghani. Some of these individuals were also promised resettlement to the United States, yet they now confront looming repatriation as Pakistan mandates an exodus by March 31.

Community leaders like Haji Abdullah Bukhari are vocal about their concerns, calling upon Pakistan—a fellow Muslim nation—to exhibit compassion and afford the displaced individuals more time to prepare for their return. “To uproot lives established over decades in mere days is unconscionable. Many faced with this ultimatum barely recognize the homeland they’re being forced to return to,” Bukhari stated, illustrating the emotional turmoil faced by these families.

Pakistan's decision to deport Afghan refugees is rooted in rising frustration towards the Taliban administration, which is accused of harboring Pakistani militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Despite Taliban denials regarding these allegations, tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, marking a challenging chapter for refugees caught in the conflict's crossfire.