An Afghan refugee’s appeal to Pakistan’s prime minister

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

I first left Afghanistan, and crossed over into Pakistan, in 1988. Back then, I was running; afraid for my life, leaving behind a bloody war. My wife and two young children journeyed with me for days. Everything I had ever owned, I had now left behind in the country of my birth.

Pakistan was an alien country to me. I had neither a roof over my head not a penny to my name. In order to make ends meet, and to feed my family, I worked various jobs in Peshawar. By the time I had two more children, I had collected enough money to open a small electric appliance store on Peshawar’s Dalazak road.

All four of my children were raised here, in Pakistan. Two were even born here. For them, and for me, Pakistan is now home.

Well, at least that is what we thought.

In the last few years, officers have been visiting our residence. They tell us that we must go back to Afghanistan – the country I left 30 years ago. Asking me to return to Afghanistan is like forcing me to walk on fire.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve visited my country of birth several times in the past for a wedding or a funeral. But every time I went I left like a stranger in a strange land. I have my roots in Pakistan now. My shop is here. My children have only known Pakistan. Why should they have to leave their country and live in mine?

Last month, someone told me about a speech our Prime Minister Imran Khan made. He promised to grant citizenship to the million or so Afghan refugees and Bengalis living in Pakistan for decades. I heard he said that all those born in the country will be given passports. It was exciting news. My uncertainty was almost over. A few days later, I heard that the prime minister hesitated when asked again about the right of citizenship. I heard that he would no longer be able to deliver on his promise.

Prime Minister, I do not have the means to restart a life in Afghanistan. Pakistan is my Garden of Eden. My paradise. Please don’t take it away from me.

Peshawar's Afghan Colony

There are so many others like me. Peshawar’s dusty Afghan Colony is overpopulated with similar stories. They are poor. They fled a war in the 80s and have worked hard since then to set up small businesses such as grocery and leather shops and kiosks.

Several times in a week, the police show up and arrest the men. It has been an endless cycle of harassment and confusion.

Pakistan was once an alien country to me. Today, it is home. But now I and my children are the aliens. Is that fair?





https://www.geo.tv/latest/212517-pr...en-please-dont-take-it-away-an-afghan-refugee

 

[maximuswarrior]

It is terrible, but time has come to leave and populate Afghanistan. Pakistan was a temporary stay.

Another option is to settle in India or the US. Two Afghan saviors.

 

[Jaanbaz]

Afghans who were born in Pakistan should be given citizenship but anyone involved in crime/terrorism should be deported immediately.

Now coming to Bangladeshis in Pakistan, there are two types. One are the the ones who were loyal to Pakistan and stayed in Pakistan after the civil war but most of the Bangladeshis you see in Karachi came later due to economic reasons as Bangladesh was still very poor in its early days, unfortunately a lot of them are hardcore Islamists, they should be sent back to Bangladesh.

 

[El Sidd]

haha i can make up better stories than this Mir Shakil

 

[Cookie Monster]

It is terrible, but time has come to leave and populate Afghanistan. Pakistan was a temporary stay.

Another option is to settle in India or the US. Two Afghan saviors.

But don't u think this hardline approach against ALL Afghans is the same as when the west generalizes and profiles Muslims bcuz of the actions of a few idiots?

I know Pakistan is a developing country with few resources and can't support hundreds of thousands refugees pouring in. However these ppl(Afghans and Bengalis) have already been here. Whatever effect their influx was to have on jobs and economy has already happened.

Wouldn't it be better to seal the borders(fencing/sensors/better patrolling) to control illegal immigration from happening further...and sending back the Afghans and whoever else came illegally...RECENTLY
...bcuz those ppl most likely have not yet integrated/intermingled with Pakistanis

The Afghans who came way back(during and in the aftermath of the soviet invasion) have married here...had kids here and built a life here. If we send them back...should we tear families apart and only send the Afghans back? Or should we condemn their Pakistani family members to a life in war torn Afghanistan?

Same goes for Bengalis...if they came here illegally recently then obviously they should be deported. However if they were here during and shortly after 1971 events then they were Pakistanis(before 1971) or wanted to remain a Pakistanis(post Bangladesh's creation).

In any case granting these ppl citizenship on a case by case basis would bring them into the system(identification, address, fingerprints, etc) and would be better for the country's security...additionally then they can be legally taxed.

...and obviously it goes without saying that if someone(illegal immigrant) is found guilty of traitorous actions like working with the Afghan Taliban against Pak for example...then if they weren't executed and served their sentence...they can be sent back to Afghanistan and the above considerations don't apply.

I think this option is the lesser of two evils. We can't just ignore this problem of illegal immigrants and a solution is needed ASAP. IMO the way forward is to stop all future illegal immigration(as much as possible) and working on a case by case basis on those already here.

 

[maximuswarrior]

But don't u think this hardline approach against ALL Afghans is the same as when the west generalizes and profiles Muslims bcuz of the actions of a few idiots?

I know Pakistan is a developing country with few resources and can't support hundreds of thousands refugees pouring in. However these ppl(Afghans and Bengalis) have already been here. Whatever effect their influx was to have on jobs and economy has already happened.

Wouldn't it be better to seal the borders(fencing/sensors/better patrolling) to control illegal immigration from happening further...and sending back the Afghans and whoever else came illegally...RECENTLY
...bcuz those ppl most likely have not yet integrated/intermingled with Pakistanis

The Afghans who came way back(during and in the aftermath of the soviet invasion) have married here...had kids here and built a life here. If we send them back...should we tear families apart and only send the Afghans back? Or should we condemn their Pakistani family members to a life in war torn Afghanistan?

Same goes for Bengalis...if they came here illegally recently then obviously they should be deported. However if they were here during and shortly after 1971 events then they were Pakistanis(before 1971) or wanted to remain a Pakistanis(post Bangladesh's creation).

In any case granting these ppl citizenship on a case by case basis would bring them into the system(identification, address, fingerprints, etc) and would be better for the country's security...additionally then they can be legally taxed.

...and obviously it goes without saying that if someone(illegal immigrant) is found guilty of traitorous actions like working with the Afghan Taliban against Pak for example...then if they weren't executed and served their sentence...they can be sent back to Afghanistan and the above considerations don't apply.

I think this option is the lesser of two evils. We can't just ignore this problem of illegal immigrants and a solution is needed ASAP. IMO the way forward is to stop all future illegal immigration(as much as possible) and working on a case by case basis on those already here.

Leave marriage, religion and other complexities out of this discussion. Let's go back to the original deal.

We didn't take up Afghan refugees as permanent citizens of this country. The Cold War was the reason why Afghans were fleeing their nation. Pakistan had to accommodate the Afghan refugees due to US warmongering. Pakistan is after all the direct neighbor of Afghanistan. We provided Afghans a safe temporary stay. Today the world has the guts to lecture Pakistan to provide citizenship to Afghan refugees who were supposed to return to their home country. Pakistanis are hospitable, but we have to honor the agreement.

The deal was that Afghan refugees were going to return to their home nation. Afghanistan is today a safe country according to India, US and NATO forces. All of these nations have collectively liberated Afghanistan from tyranny. The deal of repatriating Afghans needs to be honored. No one can question Pakistan for repatriating Afghans.

 

[Taimoor Khan]

America is occupying Afghanistan and letting it's minion India free access to its soil, the Kabul regime and NDS do not spare any opportunity to bad mouth Pakistan, YET Pakistan bear the load of these millions of refugees. America and India must have all the refugees passed over to them. You cannot have the cake and eat it.

GOP MUST now work on this premises and tell yanks that if they insist on their occupation of Afghanistan, they must take all refugees. As occupying force, Afghanistan and it's citizens are their responsibility, not ours.

 

[ALi Rizwan]

Afghans who were born in Pakistan should be given citizenship but anyone involved in crime/terrorism should be deported immediately.

Now coming to Bangladeshis in Pakistan, there are two types. One are the the ones who were loyal to Pakistan and stayed in Pakistan after the civil war but most of the Bangladeshis you see in Karachi came later due to economic reasons as Bangladesh was still very poor in its early days, unfortunately a lot of them are hardcore Islamists, they should be sent back to Bangladesh.

Why not simply facilitate them. Those who are born in Pakistan and are not involved in anti state activities & have jobs in Pakistan should be given working visa. rest all should be kick out. Few citizenship will be ok if individual prove useful to state.
We have Peoples in Bangladesh who even after many years still loyal to Pakistan. If Govt. want to give citizenship for free then they deserve the most.

 

[Baby Leone]

but as per afghan cricket team they cant visit Pakistan to play cricket due to security reason (although most of them and their family still lives in Pakistan) then why millions of them are living in Pakistan and dont want to go back?

 

[Imran Khan]

now who we should blame zia or after zia ?

 

[Cookie Monster]

Leave marriage, religion and other complexities out of this discussion. Let's go back to the original deal.

We didn't take up Afghan refugees as permanent citizens of this country. The Cold War was the reason why Afghans were fleeing their nation. Pakistan had to accommodate the Afghan refugees due to US warmongering. Pakistan is after all the direct neighbor of Afghanistan. We provided Afghans a safe temporary stay. Today the world has the guts to lecture Pakistan to provide citizenship to Afghan refugees who were supposed to return to their home country. It is not going to happen.

The deal was that Afghan refugees were going to return to their home nation. Afghanistan is today a safe country according to India, US and NATO forces. All of these nations have collectively liberated Afghanistan from tyranny. The deal of repatriating Afghans needs to be honored. No one can question Pakistan for repatriating Afghans.

Right...I'm not worried about what the world would say...I know that their stay was to be temporary...and had it been JUST AFGHANS...I would say no problem...send them all back.

My argument is for the Pakistanis...those Afghans who are not found to be against Pak(not involved in anti Pak activities)...and have Pakistani families(spouses/children)...if they are sent back...
What are we to do with their Pakistani family members? Hold their Pakistani family members back in Pakistan and tear apart families? Or send these Pakistanis to Afghanistan(which u say is safe according to India)?

Obviously any Afghan(whether refugee or illegal immigrant), if he/she has no Pakistani family members should be sent back right away...but it's a little more complicated in case of those who have families here.

The complexities like marriage, family, etc. are there whether we like it or not. They are not a separate issue and have to be addressed when deporting someone out of the country. Which option would u pick? Would u only send back Afghanis and hold back their Pakistani family members? Or would u also send their Pakistani family members to Afghanistan?

 

[maximuswarrior]

Why not simply facilitate them. Those who are born in Pakistan and are not involved in anti state activities & have jobs in Pakistan should be given working visa. rest all should be kick out. Few citizenship will be ok if individual prove useful to state.
We have Peoples in Bangladesh who even after many years still loyal to Pakistan. If Govt. want to give citizenship for free then they deserve the most.

You cannot look into the heart and mind of an individual. We all know with certainty that most Afghans in Pakistan harbor ill feelings towards Pakistan. Afghans claim Pakistani territory. Shall we give that too?

There comes a point where you have to draw a line. I know that not all Afghans are nasty towards Pakistan, but many are. However, that's not even an argument to look at when deciding whether Afghan refugees need to return to Afghanistan. For me the main argument is that Afghan refugees stayed on a temporary basis in Pakistan. That was the deal. Afghans need to go home now and rebuild their nation.

Afghans who are married to locals need to take their entire families back to Afghanistan. Those local who married Afghan refugees should have known the risks.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

now who we should blame zia or after zia ?

Past is past, it’s time to move forward and give them citizenship.

 

[maximuswarrior]

Past is past, it’s time to move forward and give them citizenship.

They won't be given citizenship. This isn't Timbuktu. Pakistani citizenship is not a joke. You know how much trouble people have to go through before earning a passport of any nation?

Some people here want to distribute Pakistani citizenship like sweets. The last time our honorable Hussain Haqqani did that CIA spies were roaming all around the country.

 

[Imran Khan]

Past is past, it’s time to move forward and give them citizenship.

noooo we will be fucked up