Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Face Imminent Deportation Amid Uncertainty

With the deportation deadline on March 31, Afghan refugees in Pakistan grapple with anxiety and uncertainty, as they are forced to abandon decades of life in a country where they sought refuge, raising concerns about their safety back home amid ongoing tensions with the Taliban.

 

In a tense atmosphere on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, Afghan families observed Eid al-Adha not with celebration, but with dread as they confronted an impending deadline for mandatory deportation. Thousands of refugees, many of whom have lived in Pakistan for generations, now face the terrifying prospect of returning to Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime continues to impose strict rule and violence.

The crisis began following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, which instigated another wave of displacement among Afghan families, including those who had been promised resettlement in the United States. Recent announcements by the Pakistani government have left these families in a state of turmoil, as they've only been given a short notice to prepare for the imminent return.

Community leaders like Haji Abdullah Bukhari are advocating for compassion from Pakistan, stressing that uprooting families from their homes—sometimes after decades of residency—is not feasible. "These individuals are being cast out into a land they hardly recognize," he lamented, urging for an extension of the deadline to allow refugees more time to make arrangements.

Pakistan’s decision to deport Afghan nationals is attributed to its growing tensions with the Taliban, whom it accuses of harboring militants linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (T.T.P.), a group responsible for numerous violent attacks within Pakistan. Despite the Taliban denying these allegations, the situation has escalated, leaving Afghan families to wonder about their future amidst political strife and the threat of violence.