Afghan Refugees Should Not Be Made Prey Of Inter-State Politics
05 July 2016By Shahamat Emarat
Recently Afghan refugees in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have
faced severe restrictions and discrimination. Unfairly targeted by the local
police, their dwelling are demolished and they are targeted for bribes during
their travels.
Afghan refugees – whom have been dwelling in various parts of Pakistan for the
past four decades – live normal lives in their adopted home and no substantial
evidence has yet been forwarded to prove that they play a role in the
instability plaguing Pakistan. According to Rustom Shah Mohmand – famous
Pakistani diplomat and former ambassador to Afghanistan – Afghans don't even
have 1 per cent role in the instability of Pakistan.
Afghan refugees in Pakistan struggle with meeting their basic needs and
usually spend their lives striving to feed their families and thus play no
role in criminal or subservient activities. They have played a positive role
in the economic and agricultural sectors of Pakistan. Not only do the ordinary
people of Pakistan and these refugees get along amicably but rather many have
intermarried with their host nation. Their inter-relations breeds an
atmosphere of brotherhood and mutual sympathy.
It is also worth noting that the Afghan refugees share mutual religious,
cultural, linguistic and historical ties with their hosts which has brought
the two nations even closer and empathic to one another.
The Islamic Emirate recently issued an official statement praising Pakistan
for harboring Afghan refugees for the past 38 years. The Islamic Emirate
called on Pakistan that until these refugees can find shelter and basic
necessities of life, and until the barbaric foreign occupation ends, Pakistan
should shun from compulsively deporting these refugees.
Similarly the Islamic Emirate has always striven to educate the two people
that they should not be deceived by the warmongering of those that seek to
destroy the historical brotherhood of the two nations and replace it with
mutual hatred and distrust.
Pakistan should not use the deportation of Afghan refugees as leverage to
advance their policies. They should consider the poverty and recourselessness
of these refugees. They should treat these refugees with a spirit of
humanitarian and Islamic brotherhood.
Once the situation in Afghanistan stabilizes the initial step of these
refugees will be to return back to their country. Therefore the Afghan
refugees call on the Pakistani authorities to stop the ongoing discrimination
against them, let them strive for their daily needs, and not needlessly
sacrifice them in arena of inter-state politics.
©
EsinIslam.Com
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