Pakistan has announced plans to deport any migrants who are in the country illegally. This group includes 1.7 million Afghans. This statement sparked a lot of fear in the Afghans who reside in Pakistan. Afghan citizens have been coming to Pakistan for over 40 years in search of refuge. Many are worried that returning to Afghanistan will put them at grave risk. However, Pakistan acknowledged these concerns and made clarifications about who was at risk of being deported. Pakistan also made it publicly known that this mass deportation is not directed at just Afghans, it is directed at anybody living in the country illegally. Amnesty International and the UN have expressed their doubt about this policy. They have asked that refugees not be returned unless it is voluntary. Pakistan faces many challenges as they try to make this process go as smoothly as possible.
There are so many players involved in this mass deportation by Pakistan. Pakistan wants to cleanse its country of illegal immigrants, but the UN and other organizations believe this decision is poor and could have bad outcomes. The safety of the immigrants is priority number 1, and many people believe deportation would be putting these people in danger. Pakistan is also trying to keep the Pakistani Taliban at bay. The Pakistani Taliban is posing a threat and Pakistan wants to avoid any controversy to occur. Could the Pakistani government be involved in a deal that stops any attack on Pakistan as long as Afghan refugees are returned? Pakistan has denied any allegation like that. But after 40 years, why does Pakistan want to limit the amount of Afghan refugees in their country?
This relates to class because it deals with international safety and security. Many citizens will run or migrate from their country in search of safety or a better life. Many times, the country they are leaving does not provide safety or could have a dangerous government. These Afghan refugees were scared by the Taliban government and wanted to flee before their lives were in danger. But they were not welcomed with open arms. It has left these refugees frightened and not sure where to go. IGOs and NGOs are stepping in to support some sense of security for them, but they are still left without a country.