A Child’s Brave Journey From Pakistan To Afghanistan

Resilience In Transit

Asem Mustafa Awan: The small child on a pickup carrier embodies resilience and courage. Despite being under ten years of age, he is tied with ropes around his frail frame for his own safety and will remain in this position for hours as the vehicle takes a break.

This poignant image, if captured in the developed world, would likely trigger an uncontrollable uproar. However, here, in a seemingly precarious situation, he remains steady and unwavering as he embarks on a journey back to Afghanistan with household belongings.

His gesture of a raised hand with a palm stretched outward and a solemn expression can be interpreted in various ways, providing ample fodder for behavioural scientists to offer explanations that suit their preferences.

These families are leaving Pakistan after decades, numbering in the thousands. It’s a stark contrast to the expectations when the United States withdrew after two decades of war in Afghanistan as the Afghan government managed the situation in a way that left everyone amazed.

A select few who served the allied forces during the war on terror have been listed and are awaiting evacuation via chartered flights. The UK government has urged their assets to maintain a low profile, given Pakistan’s intensified efforts to combat illegal immigration.

These operations were prompted by the Saudi government’s revelation in October of 12,996 alleged fake Pakistani passports handed over to the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh. Reports suggest that these passports were acquired by Afghan citizens through various passport centres in Pakistan.

In Balochistan, 40,000 ID cards have been blocked and NADRA has invalidated over 100,000 fake ID cards. While twenty thousand Afghans have left voluntarily from the Chaman border, thousands more are departing from the Torkham border.

Pakistan is home to millions of Afghan migrants and refugees, with approximately 1.7 million undocumented, according to officials.

Amid Pakistan’s ongoing campaign to deport illegal immigrants, including Afghan nationals, an audio clip has emerged. In the recording, the Taliban governmentActing Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqub Mujahid issues a stern warning to Islamabad, urging them to consider the consequences of their deportation efforts before taking “unilateral actions”. Mujahid called on Pakistani authorities not to mistreat Afghan nationals and accused them of confiscating the personal property and assets of Afghan citizens. He emphasised that the Taliban would use all their resources to prevent such actions and vowed not to allow anyone to seize the personal property of Afghan refugees.

This situation raises questions about how the Pakistani government allowed it to happen, considering the lack of oversight for those involved in this illegal operation. The international community has raised concerns about this issue repeatedly and it is crucial that those responsible for tarnishing Pakistan’s image are held accountable. This time, the law must be enforced so that nobody can escape justice.

What has begun must lead to a just resolution and those who engaged in corrupt activities should be identified and held accountable. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan, as neighbouring nations, deserve an opportunity to address these challenges together and this chance should not be missed.

The writer is a journalist based in Islamabad and writes on a wide range of issues.