As deportations of Afghans from Pakistan intensify, families like that of Nabila, a 10-year-old girl, are forced to live in hiding, fearing both police raids and return to a violent Afghanistan. With over half of the Afghan population in Pakistan undocumented, the situation remains dire as the Taliban government claims safety while many face imminent danger if returned.
Fear and Uncertainty: Afghan Families Face Deportation Crisis in Pakistan
Fear and Uncertainty: Afghan Families Face Deportation Crisis in Pakistan
Afghans living in Pakistan grapple with the looming threat of deportation, revealing a heartbreaking struggle for safety and stability amid ongoing raids and unresolved immigration processes.
Afghans living in Pakistan are increasingly fearful as authorities intensify deportations, prompting families to live in hiding. One such family, represented by 10-year-old Nabila (not her real name), has experienced fear-driven disruption in their daily life. After being barred from attending local schools for not having valid documents, Nabila recounts how even a single day of absence meant police came searching for Afghan children.
In Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi, the United Nations reports a sharp rise in deportations, arrests, and detentions of Afghans, with over three million in the country, many undocumented. Families live under constant fear, with raids occurring nearly every day. Those with ties to the previous Afghan government, including Nabila’s father, Hamid, who served in the military, express terror over the possibility of returning to a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan where reprisals against former officials remain rampant.
Philippa Candler, representing the UN Refugee Agency in Islamabad, outlines Pakistan’s growing frustration over the delays in international relocation programs, calling attention to the increasing number of Afghans being sent back—930 individuals in just the first half of February, double the previous rate. Alarmingly, 20% of those deported were recognized as refugees in need of protection according to the UN.
Pakistan's government has made it clear that their policies are aimed at all undocumented foreign nationals, issuing fluctuating deadlines for compliance that have left many Afghans feeling helpless. Nabila’s family believes their only recourse is to remain hidden, as they do not possess proper visas or documentation, leading to sleepless nights filled with anxiety.
Worries abound about the Taliban's assurances of safety; reports persist that many former officials and members of the armed forces have faced violence despite official claims of amnesty. In a poignant moment, Nabila’s mother, Maryam, shares her sorrow over losing a friendship due to deportation, illustrating the deep emotional toll this uncertainty inflicts on families.
Pakistan has historically hosted Afghan refugees, but tensions have escalated with cross-border violence, leading to new policies aimed at expediting repatriation. Since the implementation of a controversial "Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan," nearly 836,000 individuals have been returned to Afghanistan, exacerbating existing fears among those still in Pakistan.
Among those affected is Ahmad, who faces a heartbreaking situation of his own as police raids put him and his family at risk. Despite being in the final stages of a U.S. resettlement program, the abrupt halt under previous administrations has left many like him without hope. His account of living through a harrowing ordeal of police detainment reveals the desperate struggles faced by Afghans seeking safety.
While some families are leaving major cities, many can't afford to escape their situation. They grapple with both the threat of deportation and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding their status in Pakistan. The situation is punctuated by emotional interviews, with one woman lamenting the difficulties of living in a country where her passion for singing is stifled by harsh regulations.
As the U.S. embassy in Islamabad engages with Pakistani officials regarding the status of Afghan nationals seeking resettlement, humanitarian concerns persist over families facing deportation and the potential consequences awaiting them in Afghanistan. The plight of the Afghan diaspora in Pakistan remains dire, begging the question: what is the path forward for those caught in such harrowing circumstances?
