Pakistani actor and UNHCR goodwill voice Mahira Khan have spoken about the fear and uncertainty faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan, especially women and children.
She said many Afghans were born in Pakistan and deserve safety, dignity, and protection. Her words reflect genuine humanitarian concern. But they also leave out a critical part of the picture.
For decades, Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees under extreme pressure. Since 1979, the country has sheltered between four and five million Afghans over different phases.
It opened schools, hospitals and job markets. This support continued even as Pakistan faced economic strain and limited international burden-sharing.
Pakistan’s humanitarian role and heavy costs
Pakistan’s refugee policy cannot be viewed in isolation from its security reality. Since August 2021, militant groups such as the TTP have operated from Afghan soil.
According to Pakistan’s security briefings and UN-linked reporting, these groups have been linked to repeated attacks inside Pakistan between 2021 and 2025.
These costs are not theoretical. Hundreds of Pakistani civilians and security personnel have lost their lives.
Children in Bajaur, Peshawar, Quetta, and Waziristan have died in bombings traced to cross-border militant networks. Ignoring this toll presents only half the truth.
Refugee protection and security are not opposites
Protecting refugees and protecting citizens are not conflicting duties. States are obligated to ensure refugee safety. They are also obligated to secure their borders and enforce the law.
Screening, registration, and lawful repatriation of undocumented migrants are sovereign acts, not acts of cruelty.
Pakistan’s actions target illegality and terror facilitation, not Afghan identity. Registered refugees continue to receive protection.
Enforcement measures focus on unregistered residents, forged documents, and criminal or militant logistics.
Women and children deserve dignity. That is not in question. But so do Pakistani families who have paid the price of terrorism. Responsible advocacy requires full context. Compassion matters, but accountability and public safety matter too. Ignoring one weakens the other.
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