The Plight of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan: Returning to Afghanistan Amid Life-Threatening Risks

Safia Bibi (pseudonym), who previously served as a prosecutor in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, currently lives in Islamabad with three female family members and children in a house. She said that a few weeks ago, her brother went to the market to buy daily necessities, where he was arrested by the police and deported to Afghanistan because his visa had expired.

Safia Bibi stated that her brother had served in a high-ranking position within the Afghan police force, which now puts his life at serious risk. She added, "The deportation has left us facing countless challenges, but the biggest concern is the safety of my brother, who is no longer secure in Afghanistan."

The former prosecutor mentioned that she had registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) two years ago, but they told her they would contact her after three months. However, no progress has been made to date.

"My mobile phone is completely broken, so I go to the UNHCR office every week to inquire about my case, but no one there provides guidance or allows me to enter inside," Safia Bibi said with frustration. This situation is not only faced by Safia Bibi but has also become a source of uncertainty and difficulties for many other Afghan refugees, who are dealing with harsh conditions due to their lack of legal status in Pakistan.

Nasima Bibi (pseudonym), an Afghan widow residing in Peshawar, is the sole breadwinner for her family. She supports the education of her three sons and covers household expenses through sewing and embroidery. Due to the Taliban's strict laws, particularly the ban on women leaving their homes without a male guardian, she migrated to Pakistan for the better future of her children.

Nasima Bibi says, "There are no men in the house. If I return to Afghanistan, I will neither be able to work nor continue my children's education, so I cannot even imagine going back."

However, the ongoing operations against illegal migrants in Pakistan have caused severe difficulties for her. My visa has expired, and because of this, my landlord tells me every day that the police have prohibited renting houses to illegal migrants. Now, I must quickly find another place, but I have no alternatives nor the means to afford additional expenses.

An Afghan refugee living in Peshawar, Nabila Bibi, says that her husband passed away six years ago due to illness, and since then, she has been solely responsible for raising her children. She supports her children through hard labor, while her eldest son, who is only 15 years old, works as a loader (carrying goods) in a vegetable market.

Nabila Bibi said, "My son's employer told him to leave for Afghanistan as soon as possible. 'You are an orphan. If the police arrest and imprison you, where will your mother find work to get you released?'" Upon hearing these words, her son returned home in tears and told his mother that they must go back to Afghanistan. Like Nabila Bibi, countless Afghan refugees are currently facing an uncertain fate.

The Pakistani government's measures to expel illegal migrants have most severely affected those Afghans who fled to Pakistan three years ago due to fear of the Taliban. Among these migrants is a significant portion of educated individuals who, after seeking refuge in Pakistan, are now awaiting relocation to a third country.

However, due to strict government policies and legal complications, staying in Pakistan is becoming increasingly difficult by the day. These individuals, who came to Pakistan to safeguard their lives, have now registered with the United Nations and are waiting for relocation to other countries. However, delays in the visa application process on one hand and the actions taken against them by Pakistani authorities on the other have further worsened their situation.