On October 26, Pakistan’s government gave a last warning to all illegal immigrants in the country, together with hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals, to leave voluntarily before November 1. The decision came after Afghan nationals were found to be involved in crimes, smuggling, and attacks against the government and the military, including 14 out of 24 suicide bombings this year, reported the Afghan Diaspora Network. A land where destitute Afghanis once sought refuge and solace is forcing them out of what has now become their homeland. They escaped the terrors of the Taliban and are now faced with the wrath of the Pakistani government and the military.
This is a picture I came across on Twitter of detained Afghan kids entering the Sultanabad detention center. This picture brings me immense shame in being a citizen of Pakistan – a country that does not respect humans and children. It reflects a government that appears hypocritical, condemning Israel while dehumanizing refugees within its borders. Children all over the world are children. Be it Palestinians or Afghan refugees, all children deserve the right to be protected, to stay with their parents, not to be displaced, to be loved by their mothers, to be educated, and not to be subjected to violence.
No child is illegal.
An Afghan refugee in Karachi expressed concerns, stating, "We're tolerating what they're doing with our women and kids, and if it continues, what's happening in Palestine will happen here too." The two most vulnerable segments of the population are being targeted solely for political reasons. Going back to Afghanistan would mean living under constant fear and threats from the Taliban. Women’s mobility and education will be restricted, and children won’t be able to access good quality education.
The academic year in Palestine was suspended because there weren’t any children left to attend the schools anymore. And Pakistan is forcibly disrupting the education of young children by detaining them and terrifying them. A country that still suffers from the trauma of the APS attack has the audacity to label Afghan children as illegal immigrants. This forceful expulsion is not a recent occurrence; Sharbat Gula, the famous Afghan girl, was arrested on charges of fraudulent identity in 2016. She served 15 days in prison and was then deported to Afghanistan, away from a “very good life in Pakistan.” She blamed the photo for her arrest, saying: “The photo created more problems than benefits. However, in November 2021, Gula was granted asylum in Italy, three months after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
The plea to prioritize education response funding, in line with basic needs like water, food, shelter, and health, remains pertinent. Pakistan, as a host country, has consistently failed to provide adequate provisions for Afghan refugees. Instead of mirroring the harsh tactics of states like Israel, Pakistan should approach the issue of illegal citizens with humanity, exploring avenues for resettlement and identity document processing.
The question persists: Can Pakistan chart a course that respects the principles it ostensibly champions? The situation demands a recalibration of policies, aligning actions with the professed ideals of humanitarian responses. The world watches, not just as a nation confronts its own internal contradictions but as it shapes its identity on the global stage.
This blog beautifully captures the tough situation Afghan children are facing due to being displaced. It's sad to see innocent kids going through such hardship because of politics. As someone living here, it's really upsetting to witness this treatment, and I firmly believe that every child, regardless of where they're from, should have a safe place to grow up and learn. The blog talks about Pakistan's responsibilities well, but it would be interesting to explore potential long-term solutions or collaborative initiatives involving neighboring countries or international organizations to ensure a more sustainable future for displaced Afghan children. Just like the genocide in Palestine, everyone is talking about these afghan refuges but nothing is being done to solve this issue.
This makes me question how the refugees will settle once they go back, would they have access to education? if they do, how would they cope with the new education since education everywhere is different. The fact that there are children involved makes this issue deeply upsetting. It makes one question about their future. I also wonder what ideologies these refugees carry with them? I am thinking also the different levels of impact and effects on the refugees.
The position of refugees turned ‘illegal immigrants’ is necessary to explore in Pakistan, thank you for your blog which talks about a current and pressing issue. I wonder how much of this ideology and the persistent labelling of these Afghan children is motivated politically with no space given to the humanitarian or educational aspects of the conflict itself. It is easy to maintain a position on the APS attack for the military and the government, but the state narrative crumbles when it is applied to these children, who for all intents and purposes, are as Pakistani as any ‘legal’ citizen.
Thank you, Fizza, for raising this crucial topic! Recently, I came across a heart-wrenching Instagram photo depicting a child bidding farewell to classmates in Peshawar. I couldn't help but wonder about that little boy: Would he have the chance to continue his education in Afghanistan? What does his future hold after leaving Pakistan? That one child made me think about the hundreds and thousands more displaced from their homeland.
According to Pakistani law, anyone born on its soil is a Pakistani national. But what about these innocent children caught in this turmoil?
I recall a similar discussion in our class about the education of Afghan girls. Will they have access to schools in Afghanistan? The most troubling aspect of this…
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Fiza. The treatment of afghan refugees at the hands of the Pakistani government is nothing but deplorable. What is even more horrendous and violent is that there is no set criteria as to who categorises as these "illegal immigrants". I have heard of registered legal Pakistani citizens being deported jus because they were Afghans. In another instance, one Pashtun man, a father to a 17 year old man was deported since he was Pashtun and so must be afghan yet he turned out to be a Pakistani Pashtun. Keeping these instances in mind, it is important to note then that is this just an eradication of illegal immigrants in line with the policies and…