Afghan refugees crisis: rights groups ignore western hypocrisy

WEBDESK: In a controversial decision, former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order halting the resettlement of all refugees to the United States, leaving over 1,600 eligible Afghan refugees in limbo. The move has sparked global criticism and revived debates about the responsibility of Western nations in addressing the ongoing Afghan refugee crisis.

The ban has been widely condemned as a betrayal of Afghan allies who supported the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and NATO during the decades-long war. It is being argued that the decision shifts the burden onto neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, which has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades.

While western nations have refused to accept refugees under weak pretexts, they expect Pakistan, despite its ailing economy to bear the brunt of this escalating crisis. Pakistan, despite fulfilling its humanitarian obligations for years, now faces increased strain as Western nations pull back from their commitments to Afghan refugees.

Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, have also come under scrutiny because these groups accuse Pakistan’s repatriation of illegal immigrants while ignoring the hypocrisy of Western nations that have abandoned Afghan refugees.

In recent months, Pakistan has repatriated undocumented immigrants, drawing criticism from international quarters. However, officials defend the move, arguing it stems from the lack of shared responsibility by Western countries, particularly the US and European Union.

In the past as well, western countries have been quick to criticise Pakistan but fail to acknowledge their own duplicity. They have relied on Afghan allies during the conflict and abandoned them when they needed support the most.

The refugee ban has fueled demands for greater accountability. Advocates are urging the international community to hold the US and EU responsible and compel them to play a fairer role in managing the Afghan refugee crisis.

As the global refugee crisis worsens, experts stress the need for a collaborative approach. Sustainable solutions, they argue, require equitable responsibility-sharing instead of leaving host nations like Pakistan to manage the overwhelming humanitarian fallout alone.