ISSUES OF DISPLACEMENT BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN: IMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES IN POST 9/11 ERA
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Date
2023-05-18
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DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Abstract
The issue of displacement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly Afghan refugees in Pakistan, has posed security challenges for Pakistan. The porous border between the two countries has allowed for cross-border mobility, resulting in large numbers of Afghan refugees entering Pakistan in waves. This has created security implications for Pakistan, as terrorist groups have also entered the country along with the refugees. The theory of Regional Security Complex helps explain how the security of one state in the complex cannot be addressed independently of the other states, as the circumstances of neighboring states impact each other's security. The study also highlights the challenges faced by Pakistan in tackling the Afghan refugee crisis in the post-9/11 era. Despite not being a signatory to international conventions on refugees, Pakistan has hosted the largest number of Afghan refugees. The presence of Afghan refugees has had economic, social, political, security, and environmental effects on Pakistan. Efforts have been made by Pakistan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to repatriate Afghan refugees and discourage further influx, but these efforts have faced challenges. The research aims to explain the security dynamics between Afghanistan and Pakistan using the Regional Security Complex Theory, highlight the challenges faced by Pakistan in addressing the Afghan refugee crisis, examine the socio-economic implications of the crisis, evaluate the success of repatriation efforts, and explore future scenarios for Pakistan in dealing with the Afghan refugee crisis.