The Government of Pakistan has consistently failed to provide policies that are comprehensive and effective with regard to most major issues faced by the country. One reason for this failure is possibly the unavailability of skillful politicians and bureaucrats. However, the major reason for this is that Pakistan has always been caught in problems that have had different reactions from the internal social forces such as rival political parties, and foreign ambassadors. Throughout the history, Pakistan has tried its best to cope with the difficult situations and tensions it has faced throughout the world, due to its own actions as well as international incidents. Among the problems it has tried to solve, one of the prominent policy implementation issues that Pakistan has faced for the past decade are the policies for Afghan refugees, which have been an important topic of discussion across the country. People have given various opinions about Pakistan’s policies and the future of these refugees, but nothing has been settled yet. These refugees have been living in Pakistan for a long time, and now after settling in and strengthening their roots here, the Pakistani government is facing difficulties in enforcing a policy for moving out these foreigners. The government is under enormous pressure from the internal participants that hold strong positions in the decision-making authorities, but despite that, it has successfully implemented some policies for the future of these refugees. Therefore, it can be concluded that the government of Pakistan and the internal social forces have both led to successful policy implementation for the Afghan refugees by considering the socio-economic factors, learning from the global refugee crisis, sticking to the Pakistani foreign policy, and realizing the fact that Afghans are a burden on the Pakistani economy.

Afghan refugee crisis originated in 1979 after the Soviet attack on Afghanistan, which was an attempt to gain superiority over them and clear its way for the warm waters to increase its trade. The initial plan was to invade Afghanistan and clear the track all the way to the Indian Ocean. As Hamdan stated that, two days after the Soviet invasion, Brzezinski sent a memo to the US President expressing concern that, “if the Soviets succeed in Afghanistan…the age-long dream of Moscow to have direct access to the Indian Ocean will have been fulfilled” (Afghanistan: The Soviet...). The motivation behind this was the Soviet goal of spreading communism and defeating its rival the United States. This plan was foiled however due to the tough resistance of the Afghans which is considered to be a major cause for the downfall of the Soviet Union.  However, this Afghan war led to a very chaotic state within Afghanistan and it deteriorated from the status of a peaceful nation. Moreover, the United States and Pakistan played a very important part in this whole crisis. Pakistan feared that they would fall victim to the Soviet aggression and hence aligned themselves to the United States who never wanted the Soviet Union to achieve any hold over international trade. Therefore, the United States urged Pakistan to understand the critical situation and help the Afghans fight against the Soviet Union. The end was a situation where Pakistan trained and created Afghani militants to fight against the Soviet Union and established a buffer zone(Afghanistan) between itself and the Soviet Union. Afghanistan agreed to Pakistan’s policy out of self-interest as they did not want Afghanistan to be destabilized. However, during this period the creation of a war zone in Afghanistan led many people to leave their homeland and move to neighboring countries for refuge. Many Afghanis moved to Pakistan for shelter and support. Pakistan’s government welcomed them and played a vital role in allowing these refugees to settle in until the war had finished. As Safri states that, during the peak wave of migration from 1979-1989, there was a considerable different attitude from Pakistan and Iran, both the countries employed terms from Islamic discourse to justify welcoming refugees in their time of need. Pakistan called themselves “Ansar”, a term used for people of Madinah who welcomed refugees from Makkah” (591). This shows the welcoming sentiment of the Pakistani Populace to the refugees at the time.

After the Soviet’s collapse and the end of the war some refugees moved back to Afghanistan, but a reign of bloodthirsty warlords initially and then the extremist totalitarian government of the Taliban deterred most Afghan refugees from returning to their homeland. Then in 2001 the 9/11 attacks increased the hostility of Afghanistan and made it a war zone yet again. The United States blamed the Muslim militants for the 9/11 attacks and opened a new chapter of the war in the history of Afghanistan. The Taliban government in Afghanistan ended, leading to increased instability within the state and causing another massive migration of people from Afghanistan to neighboring countries especially Pakistan. As Ikram states, “After the downfall of the Taliban it was widely believed that the refugees living in Pakistan would return to their country. Instead, the Afghans kept coming to Pakistan due to economic hardships and warring factions” (18). This statement shows that the Afghan refugees have been populating Pakistan even after the riots had reduced and things had started to stabilize in Afghanistan. This regular increase in the population of refugees is due to lack of economic progress and, among other issues, war is still taking place. Also, the refugees living here for a long period of time have expanded their communities and have strengthened their roots in Pakistan. Keeping this in mind, the Pakistani government started to make policies for the future of these refugees, and help them in the best possible way. The Pakistani government has remained proactive from the past decade to move these refugees back to their homeland, and make Afghanistan a peaceful and stable state. At the same time, the Pakistan Government has been continuously trying to remove any external negative factor that harms the state. However, due to periodic retaliation from different political parties and the Islamic countries that claim to hold a brotherhood factor for these refugees, they have been trying to alter the government's policies for these refugees. These factors, that do not want these refugees to move out of Pakistan, are making it even more problematic for the government to make policies for the future of these refugees.

The government of Pakistan has implemented successful policies for the Afghan refugees by considering all the socio-economic factors related to their future. In the initial stages, the Pakistani government did much to provide all the necessities to these refugees. As Baha states that, “During the initial stages, the relief assistance to these refugees consisted mainly of cash subsidy of Rs 120 per head per month” (166). This statement shows that the Pakistani government made efforts to provide economic assistance to the Afghan refugees. Moreover, the Pakistani government tried to remove all the social barriers between the Afghan refugees and the Pakistani population by making policies that addressed the needs of these refugees. As Baha states, “The government of Pakistan established a special Afghan Refugee Fund and people were encouraged to donate to this fund" (165,166). These policies were created to eliminate all the socio-economic factors that the Afghan refugees were faced with, and the Government was successful in implementing all these policies. With the passage of time, as the policy makers realized that many Afghans would not leave voluntarily they felt the need to develop new policies for these refugees. Therefore, the government of Pakistan while continuing majority of the earlier policies has created new successful policies for the present socio-economic factors for future of these refugees. As Ghufran states, "There is a 3-percent growth rate among refugees. This is a point of concern for authorities as well as locals as, in the coming years, there will be more mouths to feed and resources to share" (4). Also, Ghufran states that "Some 19.4 percent of all Afghans are children under the age of five. The young growing Afghans identify and associate themselves more with Pakistani society" (4). These statements illustrate the attitudes of the Afghan refugees towards Pakistan, and these are the reasons that the Pakistani government has been trying to implement policies for moving out these refugees from Pakistan. There are a lot of socio-economic factors criticizing their presence in Pakistan. However, this might have been done well before approaching the present situation of criticism against these refugees. Still, keeping in mind the difficulties faced by Pakistan, its government has played a phenomenal role in making policies for these refugees by considering all the socio-economic factors present before them.

Pakistan has been successful in its policies for the Afghan refugees by understanding the fact that these refugees are causing an enormous burden on Pakistan and its economy. According to a survey on Afghan refugees, “On an average, each household had 12 members. Gender wise and age wise disaggregated analysis revealed that each household had on an average one under 5 years’ male and female child” (Socio-economic survey...). This finding shows that the refugee population has been increased substantially, and this large increment in their population is creating needs from them and is causing a regularly increasing problem for the Pakistani government. The survey also states,"36% of the respondents did not work last month" (Socio-economic survey...). This statement shows how most of these refugees are reluctant to earn a living for themselves and their families, and these scenarios are creating a major reduction the productivity of the country and placing Pakistan's already drowning economy under a greater burden. Furthermore, this decline in economic activity is causing a reduction in our participation in the global economy, and these concerns are one of the reasons that Pakistan's economy has been continuously facing hardships and has remained in a stagnating state. Moreover, as Nigel states that, NWFP, where Pakistan's most extensive forest grows and where the mountain pastures are numerous. With the rapid influx of the tremendous number of refugees, these vegetative resources are being rapidly depleted (1). This statement shows that these Afghan refugees are one of the causes of reduction in Pakistan's already scarce resources and this reduction is making an already unstable economy weaker. Hence, Pakistan has been creating necessary policies for the reduction in the economic burden created by these refugees and is moving these foreigners to their own country.

The Pakistani policies for these refugees have been created by considering the global refugee crisis, and by understanding the fact that holding these refugees will cause future problems for the country and these refugees. The most prominent present refugee crisis besides the Afghan is the Syrian refugee crisis. Syria has remained a war zone for quite some time now, and after the civil war started many people have fled to other countries for shelter and support. These countries include Turkey, Jordan, and many others. Among these Jordan has been facing a problematic situation in holding these refugees, and providing them shelter. As, Francis states “As prospects for a resolution to the Syrian conflict become increasingly elusive and the number of Syrian refugees in Jordan swells, public disenchantment has turned back toward the Jordanian government” (Jordan’s refugee crisis). Also, according to the article by oxford business group, “In addition to the direct financial strain the refugee influx has put on public finances, Jordanian citizens are coping with myriad direct and indirect economic consequences of the violence across the border” (The impact of Syrian refugees...). These statements show that the government of Jordan has been facing serious troubles for holding these refugees in its state. These refugees are causing increased tensions between the people and the government of Jordan. Considering these consequences of holding refugees, Pakistan's government has been practical in making policies for the future of these refugees and is looking forward to a peaceful Pakistani state by moving out these refugees that are expanding their communities on a regular basis. The Pakistani government has remained aware of the fact, by considering the global refugee crisis, that refugees can cause problems for the trust between the population and the government. Also, if the government delays the policies for the future of these refugees the nation might lose faith in the system in general, thus further enraging the already fuming population of Pakistan. Therefore, the government of Pakistan has remained practical, and successful in creating policies for the future of the afghan refugees by remaining aware of the implications that these refugees might cause for the state.

Pakistan has always considered its foreign policy for creating policies for the Afghan refugees. As the ministry of foreign affairs of Pakistan stated,

"For past four decades, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees with dignity and honor. We are engaged in Afghanistan and the UNHCR for voluntary and dignified repatriation of these Afghans. In order to facilitate the return, the Prime Minister has already extended the stay of refugees in Pakistan up to 31 December 2017” (“Ministry of foreign affairs”).

Pakistan’s major concern has always been a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, which is also one of the major components of Pakistani foreign policy. As the above statement shows that Pakistan has always remained a welcoming nation when it comes to Afghan refugees and has held them in the state with pride, but now it’s time to consider the future implications of holding them any further. As Hussain states that, on the rhetoric level the Pakistani government is taking very strict and legalistic view of the matter, however in practice, it is highly liberal and meeting standards set by international laws” (9). This statement shows that the Pakistani government has taken almost every action that is in accordance with the international laws, and has always been responsible about sticking to its reasonable and peaceful foreign policy. However, despite having an accommodating foreign policy, Pakistan has always maintained an equilibrium between its internal policies and its foreign policy. For this reason, the government has created a strategy for the foreign policy to be useful for internal actions. This is one of the reasons that the government has decided to create an action plan for the return of these refugees to their nation because the major concern in keeping these refugees has been to stabilize Afghanistan and make it a peaceful state for these refugees to return. Hence, the Pakistani government has been successful in making policies for these refugees that are according to its foreign policy.

        However, the critics of these policies say that moving these refugees out of Pakistan will cause an outrage in the future Afghani generations for Pakistan. As Chaudhari states, “The situation in this part of the world is very grave. Afghanistan is openly hostile to Pakistan” (504).  This statement shows that the attitude of Afghanistan has not been good towards Pakistan, and Pakistan has remained under serious pressures from the Durand Line, the Pak-Afghan border. The critics say that moving these refugees out of Pakistan will further increase the hostility between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and create further tensions between the two states. The major reason for this increased hostility will be Afghans losing their residence of the past few decades. These refugees have been living in this state for a very long time now, and have an affiliation that has been created within the future generations for these areas. Moving them out of Pakistan will cause increased hatred for the Pakistani community and its government. Thus, deportation is not a good option. However, looking at the other side of the picture, keeping these refugees will cause a social and economic stress for the future native generations of Pakistan. It will result in most of the future Pakistani generation hating these refugees, and Afghanistan in general which will inevitably increase tensions in the future. As Rizvi states, “The influx of a mass of humanity caused some resentment amongst the local people. Tension erupted sporadically between the refugees and the local population around some camps on several pretexts" (50). This shows that if they will not move out of Pakistan today it will cause a major collapse in the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

To sum up, all the points discussed above, Pakistan has created successful policies for the Afghan refugees by understanding the socio-economic effects on these refugees in the coming, and by realizing the fact that keeping these refugees will further weaken our unstable economy. Moreover, by considering its foreign policy and being aware of the global refugee crisis Pakistan has developed practical and excellent policies for the future of these refugees that in the interest of both the parties. These policy implementations will surely revive harmonious and long lasting relationships between the two states and make both countries a stable land to live in.

                                                       Works Cited

Baha, Lal. “AFGHAN REFUGEES: SOCIOECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS.” Islamic Studies, vol. 25, no. 2, 1986, pp. 161–179. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20839765.

Chaudhri, Mohammed Ahsen. “THE RELATIONS OF PAKISTAN WITH AFGHANISTAN.” Pakistan Horizon, vol. 8, no. 4, 1955, pp. 494–504. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41392191.

Francis, Alexandra. "Jordan's Refugee Crisis." Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. N.p., 21 Sept. 2015. Web. 20 May 2017. <http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/09/21/jordan-s-refugee-crisis-pub-61338>.

Ghufran, Nasreen. "Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Current Situation and Future Scenario."Institute of Policy Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2017. <http://www.ips.org.pk/the-muslim-world/1023-afghan-refugees-in-pakistan-current-situation-and-future-scenario.html>

Hamdan, Amal. "Afghanistan: The Soviet Union's Vietnam." Afghanistan: The Soviet Union's Vietnam - Al Jazeera English. N.p., 23 Apr. 2003. Web. 20 May 2017. 

<http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2003/04/2008410113842420760.html>.

Hussain, Ijaz. “PAKISTAN'S INTERNATIONAL LAW PRACTICE ON AFGHAN REFUGEES.” Pakistan Horizon, vol. 38, no. 1, 1985, pp. 85–98. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41404029.

Ikram, Zubia. “Special Survey: Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations After 9/11.” Pakistan Horizon, vol. 59, no. 1, 2006, pp. 17–21. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41394378.

"Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Islamabad, Pakistan. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2017. <http://www.mofa.gov.pk/pr-details.php?mm=NDk5MQ%2C%2C>.

Nigel J. R. Allan. “Impact of Afghan Refugees on the Vegetation Resources of Pakistan's Hindukush-Himalaya.” Mountain Research and Development, vol. 7, no. 3, 1987, pp. 200–204. 

JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3673193.

Rizvi, Hasan-Askari. “AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PAKISTAN: INFLUX, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, AND IMPLICATIONS." Pakistan Horizon, vol. 37, no. 1, 1984, pp. 40–61. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41403907.

Socio-Economic Survey of Afghan Refugees Living in Pakistan. 

Publication. N.p.: Danish Refugee Council, n.d. May 2013. Web. 20 May 2017. <https://drc.dk/media/1182394/socio-economic-survey-of-afghan-refugees-living-in-pakistan.pdf>.

Safri, Maliha. “The Transformation of the Afghan Refugee: 1979-2009.” Middle East Journal, vol. 65, no. 4, 2011, pp. 587–601. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41342742.

"The Impact of Syrian Refugees on Jordan's Economy." Oxford Business Group. N.p., 22 Mar. 2016. Web. 20 May 2017. 

<http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/news/impact-syrian-refugees-jordan%E2%80%99s-economy>.