Dr. Ajmal Shams
Many Afghan refugees have been living in Pakistan for more than four decades. The Afghan’s mass migration to neighboring Pakistan began in 1978 when the Communist Regime came to power in a bloody coup. The flow of Afghans into Pakistan further intensified with the former Soviet occupation of the country in December 1979.
Although a significant number of Afghans have repatriated, about two million have preferred to stay making Pakistan their second home. In general, Afghans look at Pakistan especially its people with a sense of gratitude that has hosted them for decades. Except for some rare incidents, no major tensions or conflicts between the local population and Afghans have been witnessed during this whole period, which is unique in the history of refugees in such large numbers.
With the collapse of former Afghan government in August 2021 and the Taliban’s taking control, about 800,000 Afghans, as per UNHCR report, have arrived in Pakistan majority of them without any documentation. A substantial number of Afghans, although in minority, come to Pakistan with proper visas and documentation. It is worth noting though that obtaining Pakistani visa for Afghans is extremely challenging. Most visa applications are rejected without assigning any particular reason. Getting Pakistani visas are now possible through third party channels with associated costs not affordable for majority of Afghans.
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