Afghan Refugees In Pakistan Research Articles

Protocol for a cross-sectional study on factors affecting health-related quality of life among Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Background Pakistan served as a host for more than 1.4 million Afghan refugees for more than 40 years. Access to health care is the most important issue faced by refugees, because they might be at a higher risk for certain diseases. This risk can be attributed to a lack of awareness of health care facilities, health beliefs, inadequate hygiene, cultural differences, and malnutrition. Health of individuals is closely associated with their quality of life. Quality of life over the whole lifespan is pivotal to overall life satisfaction. It includes physical wellbeing, mental health, education, occupation, income, personal safety, as well as (religious) freedom. Until now, the health status of Afghan refugees has never been comprehensively investigated in Pakistan. Therefore, an assessment in this regard is needed to explore their health-related quality of life, for securing their human right to health. Methods A cross-sectional study has been designed to describe and explain the health-related quality of life of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Multistage cluster sampling was applied for selection of study participants. The number of respondents from two regions in Pakistan was drawn through a proportionate sampling technique. A quantitative research method using pre-validated questionnaires was used for data collection. The questionnaire included items to assess well-being, mental health, health literacy, and factors affecting health and health care. Descriptive analysis was used, whereas inferential statistical tests (binary logistic regression model) was also performed. The study received ethically permission by the Advanced Studies and Research Board of the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Discussion The assessment of Afghan refugee’s quality of life in Pakistan should lead to recommendations disseminated to public and health care officials. This evidence is needed for policymaking related to adequate measures for improving health conditions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Socio-Economic Analysis of Afghan Refugees Repatriation from Pakistan: A 2023 Case Study

This research paper delves into the complex journey of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, tracing their experiences from the Soviet-Afghan War to their forced repatriation in 2023. The paper analyzes crucial factors such as this paradigm shift’s socio-economic impact, security concerns, and regional implications. Additionally, it investigates Afghan refugees’ economic contributions, social integration challenges, and potential adjustments following repatriation. The study concludes with policy recommendations highlighting the importance of diplomatic collaboration, human rights, and international aid towards achieving peaceful repatriation. By examining the intricate interplay of geopolitics, humanitarian considerations, and regional stability, this research provides a comprehensive guide for policymakers to navigate the critical juncture of forced repatriation. Policymakers must consider the complexities and nuances of the situation to ensure a safe, dignified, and humane repatriation process. This research underscores the significance of international cooperation, equitable distribution of resources, and protection of human rights in bringing about a peaceful resolution to this humanitarian crisis.

Psychological Well-Being Assessment of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

Psychological Well-Being Assessment of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

Modus Operandi on Repatriation of Afghan Refugees: A New Wave Towards Peace in Pakistan

Pakistan had a long historical background as a host country for Afghan refugees from the 1970s Soviet-Afghan to after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Pakistan has been a host to one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with millions of Afghan refugees living in the country for decades. With the passage of time, Pakistan is facing security threats internal as well as external. So, the presence of millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan has been questioned by a number of Pakistanis. They are considered a huge burden on the economy, environment and infrastructure of the country. At the time of NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan, Several countries and international organizations were involved in efforts to evacuate Afghan refugees and provide them with safe haven. Pakistan has also provided them shelter. Now the government of Pakistan warned and ordered forced repatriation to Afghanistan by October 2023. It planned for 1.73 million illegal Afghan people who are living without any documents. The study finds the problem of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is a social, economic and political threat to the country. However, a great deal of repatriation is another wave towards peace after the decision.

Conflict shapes in flux: Explaining spatial shift in conflict-related violence

In contemporary armed conflict, the spatiality of violence and the constellation of actors involved in it change frequently, but how these changes affect one another remains poorly understood. What explains the spatial shift of areas affected by violence in multi-actor conflicts? We argue that the emergence of a new dominant conflict actor facilitates a shift in conflict-related violence. We theorize the causal mechanism as ‘low-risk/high-opportunity attraction’. It exists in territories where these actors can draw on a local support base and enhance capacities to engage in violence. To demonstrate our theory’s validity, we conduct two plausibility probes: on the conflict in Colombia paired with the conflict in the Lake Chad region, and on the conflict in the Afghan–Pakistani borderlands paired with the conflict in Iraq/Syria. We adopt a mixed-methods approach integrating visualizations, spatial analysis, network analysis and process tracing, drawing, inter alia, on interviews from remote regions of war-torn Colombia and Iraq.

A SOCIO-LEGAL ANALYSIS OF REFUGEES’ RESPONSE FRAMEWORK IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan was born with many concomitant rudimentary problems and a refugee crisis was among foremost of them. This article examines the socio-legal response of Pakistan for the settlement of the refugee crises. Pakistan accepts refugee as fait accompli. Pakistan has a long and complex history with refugees, encompassing various waves of displacement and the challenges associated with hosting large numbers of people fleeing conflict or persecution. This includes the migration of refugees during Pakistan's independence in 1947, the influx of Kashmiri refugees during the 1948, 1965, and 1971 wars between Pakistan and India, and the 1990s insurgency in Indian-held Kashmir, and the prolonged presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan since the 1970s. In addition, Pakistan was held responsible for producing refugees in 1971 when Bangladesh came into existence. The research adopted qualitative method to examine existing material available on the topic. The International legal framework for refugee protection is also taken into account. After thorough analysis research indicates that Pakistan does not lag anywhere in the hierarchy of nations to safeguard critical human rights including the rights of refugees

Nutritional and health status of Afghan refugee women living in Punjab: A cross-sectional study.

Afghan refugees are the world's densely populated community, with 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees living globally, of whom about 2.2 million are in Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan is a densely populated country, and due to its low socioeconomic status, food insecurity, unhygienic conditions, and inadequate access to health care, the Afghan refugees have high chances of being malnourished; the chances of death for these Afghans are 25 times more every year from undernourishment and poverty than those from violence. This study aimed to assess anthropometric and biochemical analyses, their health complications, and the socioeconomic status of Afghan refugee women living in Islamabad Punjab as women are the most vulnerable and highly malnourished group in any community. This cross-sectional study involved 150 Afghan women aged 15-30 years; they were assessed for their nutritional status using Anthropometric, Biochemical, Clinical and Diet (ABCD). The results indicate the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, and overweight at 74.7%, 16.7%, and 8.7%, respectively. Majority of the women have extremely low hemoglobin (Hb) level, which indicates iron deficiency as well as low body mass index for their age. As the results indicate that there are high chances of severe malnutrition among this most vulnerable segment of the population, this situation must be addressed immediately; the main aim of this study is to highlight the current situation of these Afghan refugees in Pakistan. More research is needed to determine how normal body weight women with low hemoglobin levels are compared to women with ideal body mass index ratios.

Finding peace journalism: An analysis of Pakistani media discourse on Afghan refugees and their forced repatriation from Pakistan

This study investigates media coverage of Afghan refugees by English-language media in Pakistan and explores how coverage is shaped by a shift in the political stance of the Pakistani state and establishment towards Afghanistan. The author examines how Afghan refugees, their forced repatriation from Pakistan, and the subsequent conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan were framed in both long-form and short-form media coverage over three years. Using Galtung’s Peace and War Journalism Model to inform the Critical Discourse Analysis, this study finds that conflict-escalatory frames dominated media coverage, and media stance changed over time to reflect state policy on the forced repatriation of over three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Findings reveal that the coverage in all four publications was highly politicized and inflammatory, the voice of Afghan refugees was significantly missing from coverage, while the Pakistani government and military elite were predominantly used as news sources. Based on the findings, the author argues that pressures from the Pakistani state and military establishment are key reasons why media coverage of Afghan refugees frequently contained negative frames of terrorism and ethnonationalism. Sporadic employment of limited peace-oriented framing was, however, observed in some of the coverage.

Afghan Refugees in Pakistan and Syrian Refugees in European Union: A Comparative Analysis

Displaced persons are Refugees, cross borders under coercion by force, leave motherland and difficult to return safely to home of parents. Root word is ‘refuge’ from which ‘refugee’ is derived, it means hiding and shelter from danger. Pakistan is not signatory of Refugee Convention 1951 but member of the United Nations (UN). Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan for approximately four decades, the Government of Pakistan provides favorable treatment and atmosphere to Afghan Refugees in Pakistan. Resultantly, Pakistan has been suffering terrorism, political instability, and economic dropdown though after left of Unites States of America (USA) in 2021, many more Afghan Refugees are expected to migrate to Pakistan. International Community is required to work and ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan in order to ensure returning back of Afghan Refugees to their parent’s home safely and work for stability and peace of Afghanistan and the region so that they live there peacefully. According to Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ (UDHR) article 14: everybody has freedom and right to enjoy, seek asylum from persecution in other countries. Asylum right not invoked if (i) genuinely arising prosecutions from non-political crimes, or (ii) acts repugnant to principles and purposes of United Nations, and Convention Relating to Status of Refugee signed in 1951 under United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). There are 145 signatories currently to Refugee Convention 1951 but Pakistan has not yet acceded to Refugee Convention 1951. According to Refugee Convention 1951 preamble: freedom under fundamental rights enjoyed by human beings under Charter of the UN and UDHR without discrimination. The UN has assured efforts to expand freedom under fundamental rights to refugees. Communitarian Critique research methodology is deployed to help understand issues of refugees. Qualitative methodology is used while conducting this research, an analytical and comparative methods to analyze and compare Government of Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan approximately for 4 decades as compare to Syrian Refugees’ treatment by European Union (EU). The largest populated migrants refugee country of the world for 4 decades is Pakistan, approximately 5 million Afghan nationals migrated to Pakistan during Cold War and approximately around 1.3 million still living in Pakistan and they are not willing to go back to Afghanistan specially after withdrawal of USA in 2021. The International Community is required, requested, and suggested to wish, help, and endeavor to build up economies of Afghanistan and Pakistan and try to strengthen stability and peace so that remaining Afghan nationals who are living as refugees in Pakistan can go back to their motherland safely, happily, and live there peacefully.

How Cohesive are Afghan refugees in Pakistan? An analysis of challenges and opportunities

How Cohesive are Afghan refugees in Pakistan? An analysis of challenges and opportunities

Afghans’ narrowing mobility options in Pakistan and the right to transnational living: a figurational perspective

ABSTRACT Different types of low-scale mobility have traditionally aided Afghans in Pakistan to cope with the challenges of everyday life during forty years of displacement: cross-border and domestic movement, resource usage from assets ‘back home’, transnational networks, and circular migration conditioned by war, prospects for peace and economic opportunities. However, in the past twenty years, Afghans’ transnational living and mobility have not only become politicised, but mobility options have decreased considerably. This article analyses the underlying immobilisation dynamics, the compression of displacement dimensions, and its effects which translate into Afghans experiencing increasing immobility as forced displacement, accompanied by a feeling of protractedness after spending decades in Pakistan moving freely within the country and cross-border. Based on figurational theory, we argue that the observed linearity of immobilisation dynamics is not inevitable and discuss the potential of Afghans, the governments involved, donors and implementers to change the established figurational dependencies and possibly create alternative solutions that centre on mobility as robust right. Based on our analysis of the socio-political figuration of Afghan refugees in Pakistan – what we call the ARiP figuration – we argue that Afghans should be granted a right to transnational living and mobility.

Rebordering South Asia: Displaced Persons and Urbanization

This article analyzes displacement in the context of three communities in South Asia: Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Sri Lankan Tamils in India, and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. In each of these cases, refugee management emerges out of the complexities of geopolitics and humanitarianism and becomes central to urban questions of the right to move and remain in the city. Drawing on scholarship in the geopolitics of migrant (im)mobilities, refugee studies, and South Asia studies, we argue that displacement threatens the contours of belonging and citizenship across South Asian nation-states. For these reasons, the cities where the displaced live have become the locus of national unbelonging and state violence through entangled forms of securitization and urbanization. In particular, we detail the spatial and socioeconomic segregation of displaced populations in which they are subject to mundane bureaucratic violence and the role that social class plays in navigating the exclusions triggered by displacement. In the cities where the displaced settle, the displaced shape the urban economy, whereas the state applies strategies of spatial control that aim to nationalize urban space while maintaining the refugees as forever displaceable.

From catastrophic migration to life-long displacement and repatriation: an overview of existing Afghan refugees in Pakistan

From catastrophic migration to life-long displacement and repatriation: an overview of existing Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Hospitality to Hostility: Governing Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

Hospitality to Hostility: Governing Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

Protocol for a cross-sectional study on factors affecting health-related quality of life among Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Pakistan served as a host for more than 1.4 million Afghan refugees for more than 40 years. Access to health care is the most important issue faced by refugees, because they might be at a higher risk for certain diseases. This risk can be attributed to a lack of awareness of health care facilities, health beliefs, inadequate hygiene, cultural differences, and malnutrition. Health of individuals is closely associated with their quality of life. Quality of life over the whole lifespan is pivotal to overall life satisfaction. It includes physical wellbeing, mental health, education, occupation, income, personal safety, as well as (religious) freedom. Until now, the health status of Afghan refugees has never been comprehensively investigated in Pakistan. Therefore, an assessment in this regard is needed to explore their health-related quality of life, for securing their human right to health. A cross-sectional study has been designed to describe and explain the health-related quality of life of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Multistage cluster sampling was applied for selection of study participants. The number of respondents from two regions in Pakistan was drawn through a proportionate sampling technique. A quantitative research method using pre-validated questionnaires was used for data collection. The questionnaire included items to assess well-being, mental health, health literacy, and factors affecting health and health care. Descriptive analysis was used, whereas inferential statistical tests (binary logistic regression model) was also performed. The study received ethically permission by the Advanced Studies and Research Board of the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. The assessment of Afghan refugee's quality of life in Pakistan should lead to recommendations disseminated to public and health care officials. This evidence is needed for policymaking related to adequate measures for improving health conditions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

AFGHAN REFUGEES IMPLICATIONS ON PAKISTAN

The paper discuss that refugees present in host state has potential economic, social, political, security and environmental impacts and create chaos and conflicts in the host state. It examines that Soviet invasion of Afghanistan has resulted massive migration of Afghan refugees, which broke out disastrous economic, social, political and environmental impacts on Pakistan. As a main recipient Pakistan placed more than three million refugees which had painful corollaries and implications on its society. The project analyses, the exodus of Afghan is one of the main causes of terrorism, inflation, child labor, drugs trade and many diseases such as poliomyelitis, Malaria etc. Furthermore, refugee influxes created environmental problems by over exploitation of natural resources, land erosion, deforestation, hunting and foraging. The economic and sociopolitical impacts creating unemployment, anger, prejudices and xenophobia among locals, which is leading society towards conflict. In this detailed analysis some examples of displaced population, its consequences and durable solutions have been identified and correlational study of refugees’ implications in other countries are also analyzed to figure out the relativity. The case of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and their implications in the country has been analyzed and it is found that withdrawal of refugees will help to maintain peace and stability in the host state.

Labour market inclusion of Afghan refugees in Pakistan through Bourdieu's theory of capital

PurposeThis article examines the labour market inclusion of documented and undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistan using and extending Bourdieu's theory of capital.Design/methodology/approachThe authors draw on 22 semi-structured in-depth interviews with both documented and undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistan.FindingsThe findings show the low capital endowments of refugees. Their economic capital is shaped by low levels of financial resources, and emotional capital is shaped by their psychological distress and traumata and identity capital takes the form of negative perceptions about them. Their low capital endowments are further reduced through different forms of symbolic violence, such as ambiguous and short-term government policies, bribery and abuse by the police as well as unfair treatment by employers. However, refugees do mobilise their capital endowments to enhance their labour market position. The authors identified resilience as emotional capital, their strategic development of who they are as identity capital as well as social and cultural capital in the form of ethnic and linguistic similarities with locals in finding ways to improve their inclusion in the labour market.Originality/valueThe authors provide insights in the dynamics that lead to and sustain the exclusion and inequalities faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Evolving Migration Trends from Afghanistan: Management and Honourable Repatriation of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

Since 1979, Pakistan has been a key player in the management of Afghan refugees despite challenging economic and security conditions. The repatriation efforts in the past could not bring conclusive results as a significant population still live in Pakistan. The outbreak of COVID 19 has increased their vulnerability due to inadequate quarantine and health facilities. The positive political developments by way of new elections and a political settlement with the Taliban provide an opportunity for honourable repatriation of Afghan refugees. This article investigates the dilemma in the management of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and suggests a viable course of action for their honourable repatriation to Afghanistan.

AN ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING REPATRIATION OF AFGHAN REFUGEES FROM PAKISTAN

Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for almost four decades. These refugees are a burden on resources of country, hence Pakistan introduced repatriation of refugees with assistance of humanitarian organizations, but desired success not yet achieved. This study focused on "An analysis of economic factors influencing repatriation of the Afghan refugees from Pakistan”, therefore, utilized cross-sectional design to measure association between economic factors and expatriation. Study applied quantitative survey method to collect data through questionnaire. The simple random technique used to approach samples in population. Variables measured by the items selected from four different instruments. Data were analyzed with regression using SmartPLS. The results explored that productivity, labour market integration and access to shelter as indicators of economic factors for Afghan refugees in Pakistan are significantly associated with expatriation in presence of the mediating variable (economic well-being). Hence, a pull force of economic factors in Pakistan attracts them to stay in host country and avoid repatriation to homeland.

Self-reported oral health status and associated factors among Afghan refugees in Peshawar Pakistan; a pilot study

Introduction: Afghan refugees in Pakistan is the third largest refugee community in the world. However, till date, information about their oral health and disease burden is very limited. The current is aimed to assess self-reported oral health status, practices, dental care access and associated factors among Afghan refugees in district Peshawar, Pakistan. Material & Methods: This pilot, cross sectional study was conducted on 644 adult Afghan refugees residing in district Peshawar from June to September 2020. Socio-demographic characteristics and data on selfreported oral health status, oral hygiene habits and dental care access was collected using self-reported oral health questionnaire. Statistical tests were applied to determine association between self-reported oral health status and participants characteristics using SPSS. Results: Of all the respondents, majority (79.3%) were Pashtun by ethnicity and 41.6% did not obtain any formal education. Nearly all (97.2%) of them reported cleaning their teeth regularly, at least once a day with tooth brush and tooth paste being the commonest cleansing agents. More than half participants (58.1%) rated their oral health good/very good and 68.0% were satisfied with their dental appearance. Tooth ache and sensitivity were the most commonly reported oral problems. 28.7% of the participants never visited dentist in their life. Most of the participants (82.6%) felt need of dental care in the past one year but could not get it due to financial constraints. Significant association were found between self-rated oral health and age, marital status, country of birth, formal education and dentist visit (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Afghan refugees in Pakistan have poor self-reported oral health status. Access to dental care and oral health promotion and educations programs are crucial to improve oral health of this vulnerable population.