After a statement by Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti regarding repatriation of Afghan Refugees a debate has started in electronic, print and social media and various factions of society have come up with their view point. Some are of the view that all Pashtoon are historically Afghans and such a sweeping statement by a person who is Provincial Minister and vocal about giving his view point in law and order related issues is uncalled for.
Keeping all emotional reactions away from the issue we need to address it in an acceptable way. Let me keep the record straight that when boundary line was being drawn between the Kingdom of Afghanistan and British India a commission was constituted and representative from both the governments were included in the commission. It is an open secret that modus operandai adopted by the commission was to take consent of the tribes residing in the bordering areas whether they intend to be part of Afghanistan or would like to join then British India. After that this boundary was drawn and any argument making this Durand Line a dispute is not valid any more.
Now coming to the point of status of Refugees the internal situation in Afghanistan by and large has become stable barring some areas, therefore, their honorable return to their homeland is inevitable and all stake holders during their dialogues on Afghan issue make it an agenda point.
Unfortunately we attribute some of our miseries with these refugees which is not hundred percent incorrect. It may also be mentioned here that when in the past then Nawab of Marri tribe decided to move to Afghanistan due to insurgency in his area the Afghan Government kept these tribesmen in the camps and it was not a free for all affair or status for them. They were hardly allowed to go outside the camps.
Contrary to this our government at the time of arrival of refugees could not frame a policy and now these refugees own properties in almost all parts of Pakistan and also running businesses at various levels. It may be astonishing to note that even they have acquired government service in different departments. It is the worst case scenario of our governance and also raises serious questions.
As regard the extension of local status to certain tribes who at the time of demarcation of Durand Line opted to stay in Afghanistan in the first place it was not a good decision and secondly it must have been notified that till the time of issuance of this notification the people from these tribes were to be declared Pakistani. But unfortunately it was interpreted in a different mold and it is taken for granted that anyone from these tribes as and when enter in Pakistan he is treated as local which is a lacuna and must be addressed by Ministry of SAFRON.
Now when there is negligible funding for these refugees from International community Pakistan government may make its case for gradual repatriation of these refugees. The government must take in to confidence the political elements and work out a road map for their return.
Writer of this article wishes not to be named.
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