The recent situation of Afghan refugees being forcefully expelled from Pakistan and Iran is a stark example of human suffering, injustice, and the collapse of international norms. This crisis is not only a violation of global humanitarian values but also marks the final limit of tolerance for the Afghan nation, which has endured immense hardships for decades.
Pakistan has openly forced thousands of Afghan refugees out of their homes, and Iran has adopted the same path, fueling a dire humanitarian situation. These actions lack any justification, logic, or legal basis, and must be strongly condemned. Though Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for years, this hospitality has often been accompanied by pressure, humiliation, and political exploitation. Now, with shifting circumstances, the forced expulsions not only violate human rights but also blatantly contradict shared Islamic, humanitarian, and international values.
Children, women, the elderly, and the sick are being stripped of their homes, jobs, and livelihoods without any humane treatment or guarantees and are deported back to Afghanistan, where there is no assurance of shelter, no basic services, and no employment opportunities. On the other hand, Iran is also treating Afghan refugees harshly. Reports surface daily of refugees being tortured, beaten, imprisoned, or deported without any clarity on their fate. Most Afghan refugees were forced to flee their country due to war, crises, and poverty.
Both Pakistan and Iran, which present themselves as defenders of Islamic values, should treat Afghans with compassion, brotherhood, and human dignity, not through force, violence, and humiliation. The condition of Afghan refugees in both countries is so dire that even children, women, and the elderly are not spared. Such behavior violates international conventions, including the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Afghanistan stands alone in this catastrophe. International organizations are not intervening seriously, human rights defenders are not fulfilling their responsibilities, and the UNHCR lacks a firm and decisive stance. The Afghan caretaker government must urgently raise this issue in international forums, demand clarity from global institutions, and develop immediate and practical strategies for the relocation, shelter, education, healthcare, and employment of Afghan refugees.
We must not abandon our people. This is our national and Islamic duty. The international community is also expected to break its silence. The slogans of human rights, the principles of humanity, and international refugee laws must not remain limited to documents; they should be actively implemented to rescue Afghan refugees.
The silence of international organizations and the negligence of the Islamic world are no longer tolerable. In conclusion, the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees is a national catastrophe. It is not a temporary issue but one that carries long-term human consequences. Therefore, this situation must be seriously addressed, the global conscience must be awakened, and the Afghan caretaker government must take comprehensive action to safeguard the dignity, lives, and shelter of its people.
