‘Influx of refugees increased after Taliban takeover’

Islamabad:Human Rights lawyer Syed Muaz Shah has said that since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan saw a surge in the numbers of Afghan refugees from 1.44 million to 2.18 million.

Mr Shah was speaking at a panel discussion organised here by Institute of Regional Studies (IRS). Mr Shah acknowledged Pakistan’s sovereignty in implementing the repatriation policy in spite of the unique situation faced by Afghan refugees in the country. He added that many Afghan refugees wanted to work and settle in Pakistan as they had established their lives in the country and felt a stronger connection to Pakistan than to Afghanistan. He seemed recognising their right under international law to seek refuge and work in Pakistan.

Brigadier Shozab Majeed from Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) expert, noted that Pakistan had managed Afghan refugees without foreign assistance since 1996, causing significant stress on Pakistan’s economy. He suggested that providing Afghan refugees with opportunities that add value to Pakistan could help mitigate the economic burden. Without such measures, he added, existing loopholes could be exploited leading to increased terrorism in the region. He advocated for statistical research to determine the contributions Afghan refugees could make to Pakistan’s economy.

Former Secretary Defence, Lt Gen (retd.) Asif Yasin Malik observed that the solution lay in incentivising Afghan refugees in Pakistan to repatriate to Afghanistan through a well-planned and urgent policy action in collaboration with the UNHCR and the Afghan interim government. This tripartite approach, he maintained, would ensure the safety and security of all people living in Pakistan. He stressed that such a policy needed to be pragmatic and time-sensitive.

In his introductory remarks, Jauhar Saleem, President, IRS, stated that Pakistan adopted various approaches to managing Afghan migrants and continues to strive for the best possible solution. The goal, he said, was to ensure the safe return of Afghan migrants to their homeland with respect and dignity while also ensuring the security of Pakistan’s citizens.