The perfect scapegoat?

During a Congressional hearing held with a focus on ‘Pakistan after elections’, US Representative Phillips said that he was ‘deeply disappointed’ that Afghan refugees in Pakistan were being sent back to a Taliban-controlled country facing a prolonged economic disorder; two-thirds of the population there is in dire need of humanitarian aid. My question is: when the US was negotiating with the Taliban in Doha, did it not discuss the situation of Afghan citizens living outside the country? If not, why has it become only Pakistan’s responsibility to house them, deal with terrorism, including cross-border attacks, and also manage its economy?

The US, when leaving Afghanistan, should have considered this aspect and either convinced the Taliban to agree to some kind of repatriation plan or chalked up some strategy with Pakistan about the future of Afghan citizens. If suddenly Afghanistan is not a US problem anymore, it cannot become Pakistan’s problem alone. In fact, refugees fled because of the ‘war on terror’ initiated by the US and its allies in the first place. The US needs to do more to ensure stability in Pakistan, as, for the most part, the two countries have been good allies for the last 75 years. The relationship should change to become strategic now from the historically tactical one.

Anas A Khan

Edmonton AB

Canada