Abdul Qadeer Hassani
When the erstwhile Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, the latter’s a social, political and ethical disintegration resulted in insecurity and chaos, thus making the war-torn country difficult to live in. As a result, a large number of Afghans migrated to other countries, especially to Pakistan. Majority of them found Pakistan as a suitable and secure country and took refuge here in large numbers. This was followed by the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 which resulted in more refugees to Pakistan.
According to a report, around 4 million illegal CNICs have been issued to Afghan Refugees in Balochistan and, they have been registered in voting lists for political purposes. Another media report suggests that Baloch nationalists have claimed that besides issuance of CNICs, Afghan Refugees have also been provided with Local Certificates in Baloch dominated areas.
It won’t be unjust to claim that most prevailing problems in Balochistan are caused by afghan Refugees. Local Baloch and Pashtun Communities, who once enjoyed cordial relationships with one another, have entered into a long-lasting tussle just because of Afghan Refugees. In present time Afghan refugees are illegally settled in every nook and corner of Balochistan and creating a number of problems.
Fundamentally, the settlement of Afghan refugees have paved the way for terrorists who have badly shattered the peace of Balochistan, the number of militant activities have increased to a greater extent. The tragedies of Bomb-blast, target killing, abduction for ransom, decoity and robbery are now happening on daily basis. The local pacifist peoples are now in state of fear and aversion.
Moreover, the presence of Afghan refugees has increased the ratio of drug smuggling in the province such as charas, opium are planted and prepared in Afghanistan and are smuggled to Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and European countries by using the land route of Chagai District, Tens of thousands of Kilograms of the narcotics are smuggled overnight to Pakistan and to other countries through their agents based in Chagai District. This has badly affected the youth of Chagai who are addicted to drugs in abundance.
In addition, human trafficking is also escalating owing to presence of Afghan refugees. They deceive unemployed men who belong to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan by promising them employment opportunities in Iran and Turkey. Smugglers use land route of Chagai for their unlawful business. Tens of thousands of men are illegally smuggled every day. Some of them, in rare cases, reach safe and sound while majority of them face numerous problems and return to their countries empty-handed.
Illegal CNICs have been issued to Afghan refugees in Balochistan by NADRA in huge numbers, which has given them complete citizenship and through which they are eating into the resources and seats allocated, for the local Baloch communities, by the federal and provincial governments.
Despite, all these problems of serious nature, we are gradually losing our national identity, which is the first and foremost pre-requisite of any nation for its existence. Afghan Refugees, in abundance have mingled in Baloch dominated proximities, which has resulted in the annihilation of Baloch Culture and Baloch Nationality.
Similarly, a huge number of Afghan Refugees have settled in various areas of Balochistan and have acquired complete patronage by local Pashtun political parties, which is, through a pre-planned conspiracy, converting the local Baloch population in minority. This illusion converted into reality when Mehmood Khan Achakzai claimed Quetta to be Pashtun dominated area.
To conclude, the government of Pakistan and nationalist political parties of Balochistan must initiate concrete and expeditious steps for the repatriation of Afghan Refugees. In case of failure plenty more grievous problems might take birth and mangle the history of Balochistan.
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