Pakistan is not a displacement depot! It has shown unprecedented hospitality towards Afghan refugees for more than four decades despite being a non-signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention of the United Nations. However, the world is now testing its endurance. The backlash the country faces in this regard is disproportionate.
Various rights organizations and Western countries have again started targeting Pakistan over its deportation policy. However, those amplifying the noise conveniently ignore the situation when Western countries enforce similar policies, particularly the United States.
The US justifies mass deportations on national security grounds without facing global outrage. President Donald Trump recently took up the stance that birthright citizenship amendment in the US Constitution was intended for the children of slaves, and not for the whole world to "come in and pile" up into the US. The statement came just days after Washington pulled the plug on US resettlement program for Afghan citizens who had worked with it before the Taliban takeover, leaving them stranded in Pakistan.
The US has a long history of abandoning its allies after using them for strategic purposes. This pattern has often led to severe consequences for the affected communities and countries. From the Soviet-Afghan War to Vietnam, the Arab Spring, and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, those who relied on American support were left vulnerable.
However, no country has borne the spillover effects of war like Pakistan. It has housed millions of Afghan refugees for decades, treating them as guests despite the strain on its resources.
Yet, security concerns cannot be ignored. A significant number of illegal Afghan refugees have been involved in crimes, including muggings, robberies, and even murder. While Pakistan continues to show hospitality, it also has the right to protect its citizens.
The so-called champions of human rights, who are pressing Pakistan to maintain the status quo, should take responsibility for these “vulnerable communities” instead of merely issuing statements. Demands made without understanding the situation on the ground are inappropriate. It is time for those who vowed to accommodate Afghan refugees to open their doors. Pakistan has carried this burden for long enough. Criticizing it for finally putting its foot down is unjust. Would the West dare hold itself to the same standard it imposes on Pakistan?
