Afghan refugees in Pakistan are facing growing difficulties, and many say living in Pakistan is a flashback to the Taliban era. Shaharzad is a refugee living in Islamabad, but her whole world is confined to the small courtyard of a guesthouse because of fear of harassment, extortion, and deportation along with her children.
Growing Anti-Afghan Sentiment in Pakistan
Afghan refugees have been facing an increasingly bad situation in Pakistan for the last couple of months. Several complaints have emerged regarding police harassment, asking for bribery among others. Shaharzad told how police detained her son in a park and instead of asking about the documents asked for money:.
This follows Pakistan's decision to force out about 750,000 Afghans who are largely undocumented as that country faces increased militant attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. In addition to security, Afghan refugees have been accused of politicizing the country lately in ways that many say bordered on turmoil, especially since the sentencing of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Refugees Face Uncertain Future
To refugees such as Mustafa, 31, an Afghan in Pakistan waiting to resettle in the United States, it's a case of being out of the frying pan and into the fire. The daily life of Mustafa and his family is consumed by fear of arrest; they do not even dare to venture outdoors to buy groceries or seek medicine.
"If they know you are Afghan, whether you have a visa or not, they will arrest or extort you," Mustafa said.
The challenges are further escalated for those waiting for visas to Western nations. Many refugees are forced to process their applications from Pakistan since the United States and European countries have yet to reopen their embassies in Afghanistan following the return of the Taliban to power. Shaharzad said she was told by one European country to travel to Islamabad to process her onward visa, but she found herself living in fear.
Scapegoating in Political Tensions
Afghans seeking asylum feel caught in the crossfire as Pakistan's political and security issues grow increasingly tense. The recent spate of accusations about Afghan complicity in militant activities, among other opposition uprisings, has made the refugees scapegoats.
While international organizations continue to call for the better treatment of refugees, the ground realities are grim for many Afghans in Pakistan. The lack of a clear pathway to resettlement in Western countries further compounds their struggles.
A Call for International Support
The Afghan refugee plight is a case that screams for global attention. As Islamabad ups the ante in the crackdown, more needs to be done at the international level to protect these vulnerable groups and hasten resettlement processes.
As Shaharzad and many others wait in fear, the question lingers: How much longer will they have to endure these conditions before finding safety and stability?