When it comes to our refugees, Sherbat Gulla is only the beginning
When National Geographic’s famous Afghan girl was discovered living illegally in Pakistan, it was only a matter of time before her case caught international attention. In a multi ethnic country like Pakistan, perhaps the most crucial task of the government is maintaining the delicate balance that exists between the various ethnicities and regions in the country. Should something disrupt that balance, the spill over effect can hamper all efforts to regain it. The sensitive situation that has arisen over the case of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan is just such a story.
On the one hand, these are people who came to this country over two decades ago. Legally speaking, they should have been granted asylum temporarily, before being respectfully given passage back to their country once the situation there settled down. Instead, their prolonged presence has badly affected the ethnic balance, particularly in Balochistan, where we may soon see riots if the Baloch majority continue to clash with the Pashtun “refugees” from Afghanistan. And finally, the settlements established for the refugees have become a hot topic because of their potential as launch pads for terrorist organisations.
And yet, one must consider the human and political aspect to the situation. These are people who have settled in this country, they’ve married among the locals and had families that would be broken if not completely uprooted should the former refugees be forced to leave. Any goodwill we’ve fostered from 20 years of hospitability will be replaced with this act. These cases are sensitive and dealing with them requires a modicum of decency and respect.
Coming back to Sherbat Gulla, we must realise that hers is a special case that must be treated with the respect and sensitivity it deserves. The woman has hepatitis C, and forcing her back to an area that cannot provide her the necessary medical attention will be gambling with her life. She’s also only one of several lesser known Sherbat Gullas, and Pakistan will have to tread carefully with such similar cases ahead.