No Education for Girls: Afghan Refugees Returned to an Unfamiliar Homeland
Afghan refugees face an uncertain future as they are forced to leave Pakistan, their only home, due to security concerns Many are unable to risk returning to Afghanistan, leaving them in a foreign land with an uncertain fate
Nasim, who has called Pakistan home for his entire life, joined a sea of Afghan refugees heading towards the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Alongside tens of thousands of others given a strict departure deadline, Nasim is reluctantly leaving the only place he has ever known. Despite being born and raised in Pakistan for 42 years and attending school there, Nasim has never set foot in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's recent directive has had a profound impact on numerous individuals, as it mandates the departure of Afghan refugees and migrants lacking proper identity documentation by November 1. Additionally, Pakistan has made it clear that any individuals who choose to stay beyond this deadline will be forcefully deported. Consequently, Nasim, who prefers to be referred to by a single name, and others in similar circumstances, now confront the bleak possibility of starting afresh in an oppressive regime governed by the Taliban.
Since taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the radical Islamist group has heavily restricted women's rights, shut down girls' secondary schools, imposed a ban on women attending university or accessing various public areas, and enforced limitations on women working in numerous sectors. Moreover, the country is facing significant challenges such as widespread hunger, disease, and scarcity of clean water.
However, Nasim and other migrants have limited options and are compelled to return. Pakistani authorities initiated the apprehension of those who remained on Thursday, resulting in over 100 individuals being arrested in Quetta and transferred to detention facilities.
Nasim, who was born and raised in Pakistan, and is now preparing to return to Afghanistan.
When CNN conducted a visit to the Torkham border crossing on Wednesday, they witnessed a bustling scene with trucks stacked with worn-out furniture, suitcases, and mattresses. Migrants formed gatherings on dusty paths, tightly holding onto their children and their few possessions.
"We lacked the funds to support ourselves, forcing us to abandon both our business and homes. The journey here posed immense challenges. Moreover, there is a severe scarcity of water in this region," Nasim expressed.
"Naturally, my heart breaks when I think about my children being deprived of education. Each day they miss school feels like a part of me is dying," Nasim further emphasized. "Regrettably, in Afghanistan, educational opportunities for girls are virtually non-existent."
Situated on the western border of the renowned Khyber Pass, Torkham has witnessed numerous waves of Afghan refugees throughout the tumultuous four decades of war that have plagued the country. Countless individuals fled during the Soviet invasion in the 1980s, as well as during the prolonged and ultimately triumphant resistance of the mujahideens. Additionally, during the civil war following the Soviet withdrawal, which paved the way for the initial ascent of the Taliban, many others sought refuge elsewhere.
Afghans from various generations, including those who arrived in Pakistan after the September 11 attacks and others who came during the two decades of conflict, experienced a tumultuous period. In 2021, the return of the Taliban to power after a disorderly U.S. withdrawal led to another influx of approximately 600,000 refugees. Presently, individuals from all these diverse generations are being instructed to return.
Afghan refugees arrive in trucks and cars to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman on October 31, 2023
Abdul Basit/AFP/Getty Images
Security concerns
Pakistan's caretaker Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, has justified the deportation order by citing security concerns. He asserts that 14 out of the 24 major terrorist attacks in Pakistan this year were perpetrated by Afghan nationals. However, international rights groups have heavily criticized the order due to its extensive nature and the alleged mistreatment of Afghans by Pakistani authorities during the deportation process.
Pakistan is host to over two million Afghans without proper documentation. Their existence has always been a subject of controversy, experiencing previous instances of police crackdowns and deportation threats. On October 3, authorities declared the most recent large-scale deportation initiative, granting migrants less than a month to prepare for their departure. Global organizations and human rights advocates have cautioned against an imminent humanitarian crisis upon their return.
"We call on the Pakistani authorities to immediately halt the practice of forcibly repatriating Afghan nationals, as the consequences could lead to a devastating human rights crisis," stated Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), prior to the deadline.
She further emphasized that the individuals being deported are likely to face severe human rights abuses if sent back to Afghanistan, such as unjustified arrests, imprisonment, torture, and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment.
Pakistan has faced criticism for its approach to implementing the order, with Human Rights Watch alleging on Tuesday that the government resorts to tactics such as threats, abuse, and detention in order to force Afghan asylum seekers lacking legal status to either return to Afghanistan or face deportation.
CNN has reached out to Pakistans Interior Ministry for comment.
On November 2, 2023, an Afghan refugee contemplates his future at a temporary camp situated near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Among the pressing concerns for those who are making the difficult decision to return is the precarious state of women's education in Taliban controlled Afghanistan.
Ghulam Sakhi, a construction worker residing in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, expressed to CNN his observations on how Afghans are being treated at the border. He mentioned that although no one explicitly asked them to leave, they felt compelled to do so.
According to Sakhi, the police would apprehend them and demand money, but they couldn't afford to comply. He added, "I have been living here for more than 40 years... I have aged in Pakistan, but we have been instructed to leave, so we are complying."
In the first half of October, around 60,000 Afghans departed from Pakistan, primarily due to the fear of being arrested. This information has been reported by the UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration. According to the provincial home department, slightly over 129,000 individuals have fled from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as of Thursday. Additionally, approximately 38,000 individuals have crossed the Chaman border crossing in Balochistan.
Raza Muhammad, a father of ten, was amongst those getting ready to depart via Chaman this week. "After spending 38 years here, I am now being instructed to leave, simply because I lack a place in this land," he disclosed to CNN. "Presently, I find myself in a state of helplessness, as there is no alternative for me."
Muhammad spoke about his years of labor as a domestic worker and how he frequently faced harassment from the local police. He expressed his desire for the Taliban to assist those who were expelled from Pakistan in finding alternative employment opportunities. Muhammad expressed the belief that they had no option but to rely on the assistance of unfamiliar individuals.
Afghan refugees rest at a makeshift camp upon their arrival from Pakistan on November 2, 2023.
Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images
Akhtar Muhammad, 22, said he was born and had lived his whole live in Quetta, Balochistans largest city.
"My father has been a resident here for four decades, but we are not fluent in Pashto," he mentioned, alluding to the language spoken by the Pashtun tribes dwelling along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
"We are uncertain about the conditions that await us in Afghanistan," he further expressed.
The spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan responded to the OHCHR's statement on Monday, emphasizing the country's dedication to the protection and safety of those in vulnerable situations. They highlighted Pakistan's track record of hosting millions of Afghan refugees over the past 40 years as evidence of their commitment. Even the Taliban, in their criticism, urged Pakistan to cease the one-time deportation of Afghan immigrants, citing concerns about neighborly customs and Islamic and humanitarian standards.
The Taliban stated that Afghans residing in foreign countries have not caused any security issues and are not involved in any destabilizing activities. In a recent statement, the group mentioned that their officials had examined the process of repatriating migrants from Pakistan at the Torkham crossing on Tuesday and directed the establishment of temporary camps in the vicinity.
Some cant risk going back
The dreams of numerous Afghan migrants living in Pakistan for a new life in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have been put on hold. Instead, they find themselves returning to the war-torn nation they had previously escaped.
For some, it's a matter of life and death.
Zahid Bahand, an Afghan journalist, sacrificed everything to escape with his family when the Taliban seized power. To fund their escape, he had to sell his car, home, and other belongings. However, even after reaching Pakistan, their struggle continued as the Pakistani government refused to provide them with the necessary official documents. This, in turn, prevented his children from being able to attend school.
The police harassment became so severe that he felt unsafe venturing outside his residential area. However, he asserted that returning to Afghanistan would be considerably more perilous.
"There will be numerous challenges if I am deported; the Taliban would undoubtedly end my life," he voiced with apprehension. "I have abandoned everything. I am without a home. During my time in Afghanistan, I endured a three-month imprisonment under the Taliban regime; there is simply no place for me there."
After the 2021 takeover, distressing reports surfaced of the Taliban's detention and brutal assault on journalists documenting a protest in Kabul. This further intensified the already perilous state for journalists in a country notorious for its dangers. The relentless erosion of human rights under the Taliban's reclaimed authority has merely validated the deep-seated apprehensions of countless Afghans.
The Islamist group has recently issued instructions to judges to enforce a stringent application of Sharia law, which involves public executions, amputations, and flogging.
Fearful of the imminent return to Afghanistan and feeling the burden of supporting his children in Pakistan, Bahand is too terrified to find solace in sleep.
"I am ashamed, what kind of man am I that I cant help my family?" he said, visibly emotional. "I die every minute ⦠My fault is that Im a human? That Im an Afghan, that Im a journalist?"
