From Hospitality to Hard Choices: Pakistan’s Refugee Challenge

Pakistan’s refugee challenge has long been one of the world’s largest, with the country carrying a burden that wealthier nations would never tolerate. For over four decades, millions of Afghans have sought sanctuary in Pakistan—some fleeing Soviet bombs, others escaping civil war, Taliban rule, or post-9/11 turmoil. Through it all, Pakistan has provided shelter, education, and economic opportunities, even as its own economy buckled under crises and terrorism surged within its borders. Yet, generosity has its limits, and reality has come knocking. As of April 1, 2025, Islamabad had initially set the wheels in motion for the deportation of illegal Afghan immigrants, marking a turning point in a deeply entangled refugee saga. However, the government postponed this deadline for ten days, reportedly setting a new deportation start date of April 10, 2025, due to the Eidul Fitr holidays marking the end of Ramadan.

This decision has reignited a familiar debate—one steeped in moral obligations, regional geopolitics, and harsh economic realities. However, the discourse, particularly from international quarters, often overlooks a fundamental question: How long is a host nation expected to carry the burden of another’s instability? For over four decades, Pakistan has shouldered the weight of Afghanistan’s crises, opening its borders to millions fleeing war, famine, and political turmoil. In doing so, it became home to the world’s largest protracted refugee population—often without significant global support. The cost has been high: a strained economy, increased security risks, and demographic shifts that altered urban landscapes and labour markets. The question now is not whether Pakistan has fulfilled its humanitarian duty—it undeniably has. The question is: Who else will share the responsibility?

While human rights groups and international voices criticize Pakistan’s decision, they conveniently ignore the stark reality of Pakistan’s refugee challenge— that no country, especially one grappling with its own economic struggles, can host millions indefinitely. Pakistan has been more than patient; it is time for others to step up, beginning with Afghanistan itself.

While the decision to deport is a response to Pakistan’s mounting challenges, it is essential to recognize that those affected are not just numbers, but human lives—families, children, and individuals who have spent decades in Pakistan, often integrating into communities. The gravity of Pakistan’s refugee challenge cannot be underestimated, and it is vital that Pakistan’s approach to deportations remains human-centred, providing vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly with protections and a safe process.

Refugees or Transit Migrants? Pakistan’s Refugee Challenge

Pakistan’s refugee challenge is no longer just about displacement—it has evolved into a complex issue of transit migration. For thousands, Pakistan is not the destination but a pit stop in their bid to reach the West. The resurgence of the Taliban, combined with economic stagnation and political uncertainty, has led to a surge in Afghans seeking asylum in Europe, North America, and beyond.

Yet, the policies of the very nations that champion human rights do little to facilitate their legal resettlement. The U.S., under President Donald Trump’s second term, has reinforced stricter immigration policies, making it even harder for Afghan refugees to secure asylum. Western nations, despite vocal condemnations of deportations, have failed to provide tangible solutions.

Pakistan, meanwhile, remains the default destination—expected to host indefinitely, absorb economically, and mitigate security concerns, all while facing international censure for enforcing its laws.

Afghanistan’s Responsibility—Time to Look Inward

Afghanistan’s interim government, led by the Taliban, has conveniently framed Pakistan’s deportation efforts as a failure on Islamabad’s part rather than confronting its own shortcomings. Yet, if Afghanistan is truly stable— as its leadership claims— why are its citizens so reluctant to return?

The reality is far grimmer. Afghanistan offers neither economic opportunities nor security guarantees. Unemployment remains alarmingly high, businesses grapple with international sanctions, and the erosion of women’s rights has been systemic. The outcome? A nation many long to flee but few can realistically return to.

This is not merely a matter of borders or policies; it is about human dignity. The human cost of displacement, of lives uprooted and left in limbo, is a tragic reality that cannot be ignored. While the Taliban-led government insists the country is secure, the mass exodus of refugees paints a different picture. Economic despair, political instability, and pervasive security concerns— particularly for minorities and former government officials— make it nearly impossible for many to return. Kabul’s leadership can no longer evade responsibility by blaming Islamabad. The onus of repatriation lies with Afghanistan, which must create an environment that allows returnees to rebuild their lives with dignity.

Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, Afghanistan’s Minister for Refugees, has called for Pakistan to ‘halt deportations and allow voluntary returns.‘ But what concrete efforts has Kabul made to ensure that returnees are welcomed and supported? Repatriation cannot be a one-sided endeavour. Afghanistan must establish reintegration programs, job opportunities, and social support systems— rather than simply pressuring neighbouring countries to delay what is inevitable.

Instead of condemning Pakistan’s deportation policy, Afghanistan’s government must focus on creating solutions. Economic reintegration programs, vocational training, and employment initiatives along the border could promote voluntary repatriation. Despite enforcing deportations, Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s most practical partner in stabilizing the return process. Structured agreements on trade, workforce absorption, and phased repatriation could alleviate tensions and mitigate further humanitarian distress.

The Afghan government’s inaction only prolongs suffering for those who cannot return, and it is crucial that they urgently work to create a future in which their people can thrive. The time for blame-shifting is over. Afghanistan’s leadership must act decisively to make repatriation a viable, dignified process for its citizens.

Pakistan’s Refugee Challenge: Strategic Leverage and Regional Cooperation

While repatriation is Pakistan’s sovereign right, it is also an opportunity for regional diplomacy. With the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) as key platforms, Pakistan must push for a structured refugee solution—one that does not leave it solely responsible.

Since the U.S. withdrawal, the OIC has notably become more active in addressing the Afghan crisis, particularly in the wake of the Taliban’s return to power. The OIC has taken significant steps, offering financial aid and technical support for the Afghan government’s reconstruction efforts. However, these efforts must evolve beyond humanitarian assistance to encompass long-term stability measures. The OIC should push for more substantial engagement from its member states, with the Gulf countries providing employment opportunities and the wider Muslim world offering reintegration support for returning refugees.

The SCO, where both China and Russia hold strategic stakes, must recognize that refugee instability impacts regional security. Pakistan should advocate for economic projects that facilitate Afghan reintegration. Similarly, the ECO—a platform uniting Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and Central Asia—must explore trade-based solutions. Border economic zones, work permits, and infrastructure investments in Afghanistan can help stabilize the situation.

A Pragmatic Future—Pakistan’s Offer to Afghanistan

While Pakistan has every right to enforce its immigration laws, a managed, humane approach remains crucial. The abrupt eviction of refugees—many of whom have spent their entire lives in Pakistan—poses logistical and humanitarian challenges. Islamabad must ensure that deportations are not carried out with unnecessary force or disregard for vulnerable groups. Those at risk, particularly women, children, and persecuted minorities, must be given due consideration and support during this difficult transition.

Pakistan, despite its firm stance on deportations, can still play a constructive role. Offering technical assistance in governance, border management, and counterterrorism can aid Afghanistan’s long-term stability. Joint border trade hubs, cross-border labour agreements, and educational programs for returning Afghans could mitigate the shock of mass repatriation.

Pakistan has already urged third countries to speed up visa processes for Afghan refugees, particularly for those who qualify for asylum elsewhere. The Biden administration’s slow processing of Afghan resettlement cases left thousands stranded, and while Trump’s return to the White House has not softened Washington’s stance, other nations—particularly European states—must step up.

But the world must also play its part. If Pakistan is expected to house and facilitate Afghan refugees, then global powers must provide financial, logistical, and policy support. The world cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the consequences of this crisis, nor can Pakistan be left to carry it alone. Refugee crises are not just humanitarian challenges; they are geopolitical realities that require burden-sharing, not blame-shifting.

The era of indefinite hospitality has ended. Pakistan has carried the weight long enough. It is now time for Afghanistan, its government, and the global community to step up.

Also See: The Afghanistan Crisis: Pakistan’s Unpaid Bill for a War It Didn’t Start

The Global Responsibility in the Afghan Refugee Crisis

Pakistan’s critics in the West are quick to highlight deportations but slow to offer alternatives. The United States, after two decades of war in Afghanistan, has an undeniable moral obligation to assist displaced Afghans. However, Trump’s “America First” approach has meant stricter asylum policies and reduced pathways for Afghan refugees. Washington’s focus has been on deterring illegal immigration at home rather than aiding those stranded elsewhere.

Meanwhile, India—an active voice on Afghanistan’s political stage—has kept its doors largely shut to Afghan refugees. Despite its historical ties with non-Taliban Afghan factions, New Delhi has not facilitated large-scale resettlements. Meanwhile, India’s selective citizenship policies under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) served as little more than a geopolitical posturing tool, benefiting only a handful while projecting an illusion of humanitarian concern. Other South Asian countries, including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, have neither the capacity nor the will to absorb Afghan refugees. Iran, which also hosts a significant Afghan population, has quietly ramped up deportations of its own.

This leaves Pakistan in an impossible position. It has carried the weight of Afghanistan’s instability for decades, often with minimal international support. The world cannot expect Pakistan to serve as a permanent holding ground for a crisis it did not create.

Beyond Deportation: A Path Forward

The solution lies not in finger-pointing but in collective action. Afghanistan must prove it can support its people. Regional organizations like the OIC, SCO, and ECO must engage in serious burden-sharing. The international community—particularly the US and Europe—must expedite resettlement efforts and financial aid. Pakistan, for its part, must ensure that deportations are carried out with order and dignity.

A humane and structured repatriation process is the only way forward, recognizing the humanity of every refugee, the dignity of every individual, and the shared responsibility of all. The Afghan refugee crisis is not just Pakistan’s problem—it is a shared responsibility. The world must act accordingly.