Afghan Refugees in Pakistan – Navigating a Protracted Crisis

Abstract

The lengthy stay of Afghan refugees in Pakistan represents one of the longest-duration displacement situations in the area, with far-reaching consequences for governance, regional stability, and social cohesion. This research examines the multitude of questions created by the continued settlement of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, with emphasis on the socio-political dynamics that influence how host communities respond and how national policy frameworks are created. In this research, the lens of study brings together the aspects of how the governance of refugees interacts with the host community response, and shaped by the regional geopolitical context. To understand problematic aspects in Pakistan’s strained refugee management system, this study will investigate how these shaped systemic issues. The research collected qualitative data through purposive sampling and interviewed approximately fifty (50) key players, including policymakers, humanitarian stakeholders, civil society representatives and academics researching refugee issues. Patterns of systemic issues relative to systemic challenges, such as, inconsistent policy, existing legal framework, limited resources. As outcomes, the study called for comprehensive refugee public policy reforms, integration of policies that encompass host and refugee populations to development plans and improved regional cooperation. Beyond the amelioration of short-term humanitarian assistance institutions and developing long-term, durable solutions that promote both national stability and refugee resilience in Pakistan are of extreme importance.