Afghan Refugees in Karachi Face Uncertain Future Amid Deportation Deadline
In a refugee settlement on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, Afghan families gathered on Sunday to mark the festival of Eid al-Adha, yet the atmosphere was tinged with a sense of dread rather than celebration. As the clock ticks down to Monday, thousands of Afghans who have made Pakistan their home for decades confront an impending deportation deadline, leaving them with a future fraught with uncertainty and potential danger.
Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, millions of Afghans have sought sanctuary in neighboring Pakistan, fleeing relentless waves of violence and instability. Over the years, many have returned to their homeland, but ongoing conflict and political turmoil continue to displace hundreds of thousands. The most recent surge in displacement followed the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, which occurred after the collapse of the U.S.-backed government led by Ashraf Ghani. This shift included refugees who were promised resettlement in the United States, yet many now find themselves facing a grim reality.
The Pakistani government has imposed a mandatory repatriation deadline of Monday, March 31, a decision announced only last month, which has ignited widespread fear and anxiety among the Afghan community. “As a fellow Muslim nation and neighbor, Pakistan should show compassion and provide refugees with more time to prepare for their return,” stated Haji Abdullah Bukhari, a prominent community leader in Karachi. “Uprooting their lives with such short notice is simply impossible. Many have spent decades here, and now they are being forced to go back to a country they barely recognize.”
The ongoing deportation of Afghan refugees by Pakistan is fueled by rising frustrations over the Taliban administration, which the Pakistani government accuses of harboring Pakistani militants, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (T.T.P.), a group responsible for numerous deadly attacks within Pakistan. While the Taliban deny these allegations, tensions continue to escalate, leaving the future of Afghan refugees hanging in the balance.
