The phrase Kala ba zai (when you will go) has been in
the air since the issue of Afghan refugees’ repatriation has surfaced. The
phrase is being derogatively directed against the Afghan refugees by Pakistani
in the Peshawar region and it surroundings. A general observation yields that
the local hurl the slang at the refugees whenever they see them. According to
media reports the said act has resulted into scuffles and acrimonies at various
occasions. The act needs to be examined
in light of local norms, humans’ self esteem, the rules that govern refugees’
affairs, and international morality.
The locals think that the Afghans refugees should be grateful
to them for their decade long hospitality, and many believe that local law and
order situations have been deteriorated after the Afghans’ exodus, it is time
they should leave for their own country and leave us in peace. The Afghan refugees
on the other hand, hold a different stance. They believe that Pakistan has been
one of the elements in the political instability which has been reigning in
Afghanistan and Taliban is a tool of Pakistan in the Afghan proxy war. Every
attempt for stability in Afghanistan is foiled by Taliban and Pakistan, being its
mentor, has its role in it. Therefore the feelings of the refugees and locals
don’t reciprocate, and they largely remain at cross purposes.
Only an objective analysis of the issue will unearth the
ground realities. No sensible man, with an iota of knowledge about the recent
past of Afghanistan’s affairs, can deny the veracity that Pakistan has its role
in the Afghanistan affairs be it the American sponsored project of Jihadism,
the surge of Talibanization or the post 9/11 war on terror, and all these are
open secrets now. Even today whenever an untoward accident takes place in
Afghanistan, the blame is immediately externalized by the Afghan officials. The
issue of refugees is therefore the by-product of the internal situation of
Afghanistan.
As Afganistan turned into war theatre, especially in the
1980s, people dispersed in search for
safer places of survival, they migrated to most of the countries ,however
majority of them went either to Iran or Pakistan. Iran dealt them in the way
the refugees are dealt, they were kept in camps and provided them with moral
and humanitarian support which they needed the most, even today the same status
is being accorded to them. Whereas in Pakistan the case was altogether
different.
It was the vested interest of the then ruling class, which
made them have a different approach towards the refugees. The Afghan people
were not accorded the status of refugees as it has been an established practice
in the world, rather the public opinion was so shaped that receiving more and
more refugees was a religious act, they (locals) were exhorted to open both
their hearts and localities to refugees , the refugees being holy guests (
muhajireen) and locals being holy hosts ( ansaar). The practice continued for
long in a devoutly fashion until Pakistan was filled to the mouth and the
exodus receded.
The practice was a great boon for the then reckless ruling
community of Pakistan. They used the refugees as showpieces in Pakistan for
various types of international aids and donations, and it was this critical
time when the Swiss bank in its report said that the deposits in accounts
of the Pakistan’s officials have grown
considerably, which earlier even did not deserve a separate mention. However, repercussions
of the exodus were later felt in all walks of life in the country, be it
economy, law and order social fabric and public morality.
Government of Pakistan never made serious efforts to ensure
the repatriation of the refugees, whenever such attempt was made, it was either
foiled by the intervention of UNHCR or government’s
own lack of will. However this time the government seems somewhat serious as
the matter has been linked with the security concerns of the country. Although the
first dateline has been extended, yet a large number of families have been
witnessed leaving for their homeland. The process may continue if the government
remains stuck to its decision. However, during all this process what remains the
responsibility of the general public is indeed a crucial issue.
The public has been witnessed in humiliating the refugees;
the police excesses and a disposition full of hatred further exacerbate worries
of the refugees. The way the public (some sections) participate in the discourse
of repatriation is in no way acceptable by any canon of the international morality.
One such example has been the practice of hurling the slang at the refugees
whenever they come to interact. Such practices do not behove a polite and
sensible population. It is high time the public lend moral support and
facilitate the process of peaceful repatriation of the Afghans’ refugees.
Related links:
Read Also
Political
issues of Pakistan.
SOCIAL
ISSUES.
CRITICAL
CURRENT ISSUES