ith the influx of Afghan refugees since early 1980s following the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, the open space around the railway tracks opposite the building of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education soon transformed into a thriving bazaar run by Afghan refugees.

Over time, the kiosks and stalls set up by vendors turned into brick-and-mortar outlets, shops, boutiques and restaurants and the visitors began calling the spot Board Bazaar and then Mini-Kabul. It offered everything from beverages and dry fruits to a variety of traditional Afghan foods, clothes and more. The bazaar became a flourishing commercial hub and a source of employment for hundreds of Afghans residing in the city.

The number of shops and kiosks reached 7,500. Afghan traders, merchants and business tycoons played an instrumental role in bringing colour to this market by popularising Afghan art and culture.

Many local residents were attracted to Afghan dishes, beverages, dresses, footwear and took those to other cities and towns. Afghan refugees introduced numerous delicious foods and dresses through their hard work and vision. Kabul in Peshawar began drawing buyers, particularly Afghan buyers, from across the country.

Following the announcement made by the caretaker government regarding the deportation of illegal immigrants, a lot of Afghans in Pakistani towns and cities will have to leave.

As this started sinking in, Mini-Kabul began losing its colours. The vendors were taken by surprise when the number of buyers declined sharply. According to most Afghan store keepers and restaurants owners, the footfall dropped by a startling 80 percent.

Most of the Afghan traders still in Peshawar are in looking for buyers to sell their properties and prepare for the journey back to Afghanistan. Some of them have lived in Pakistan for decades.

Ujrat Khan, an Afghan fruit vendor, told The News on Sunday that his grandfather had come from Afghanistan in early 1980s. “My father, born in a refugee’s camp was named Hijrat Khan. I was named Ujrat Khan. Rightly so as I grew up doing daily-wage work,” he said.

Khan said he had lived all his life in Peshawar. “Now, we’re preparing to go back to Kabul, a city I’ve never seen before. I recently had a baby. I have decided to name her Musafira Bibi.”

According to most Afghan store keepers and restaurants owners, the footfall dropped by a startling 80 percent following the announcement.

Maiwa Khan, aged 60, runs a flea market in Mini-Kabul. Speaking of the bazaar, Khan says that Mini Kabul has several sections, each selling goods for people of all ages. “Afghan refugees from other cities and areas visit Mini Kabul for purchases on special occasions like Eid, weddings and festivals, especially cultural festivals such as Jashn-i- Nauroz and Naranj Gule,” says Maiwa Khan.

Shahrukh Khan, a university graduate fluent in Urdu and English, says that his father had owned several businesses in Mini Kabul. “My father deals in clothes and fruits. But now we’re ready to leave this city,” says Shahrukh Khan, adding “we’re taking with us sweet memories of our friends and acquaintances here.”

Shahrukh, who is fond of Urdu literature, says that the present situation [of migrants leaving Pakistan] reminded him of short story writer Saadat Hasan Manto who had portrayed the painful picture of Partition.

Gul Makai Bibi, an Afghan lady, expresses dismay at the thought of having to go back. She says that she is concerned for her three young daughters and their future. “My daughters’ school uniform will be soon replaced with a shuttlecock burqa. Their dreams of becoming doctors will be buried upon our return [to Afghanistan],” says Bibi.

Ali Jan Sapi, a trader, says that he and his five brothers were born in Peshawar and have spent their childhood there. “One of my brothers ran a clothing business. Another a dry fruit store. We have had to sell all our belongings including plots worth millions of rupees and two cars to avoid having our possessions confiscated by the police,” says Sapi. “We are grateful to local people and the government for hosting the Afghan population for several decades. It’s almost our third generation now,” Sapi adds.

Rajid Wali Ahmadzai, president of Mini Kabul, says that while immigrants will leave Pakistan and Mini Kabul may be dismantled, the Afghan culture and cuisine will live on in the hearts of Peshawarites.

Traders say that MiniKabul played a significant role in boosting and promoting local business and Afghan homemade products.

Ahmadzai says that the market also employed hundreds of Afghan youth. “No Afghan child was ever seen begging. None were involved in street crime in Peshawar,” he says. He says Afghans are a hardworking people. “We, Afghans, have been through hardship down the ages. Afghan professionals, both male and female, will hopefully play their part in putting their war-ravaged country on the right track,” he says.

The writer is a Peshawar-based journalist. He mostly writes on art, culture, education,  youth and minorities. He tweets @Shinwar-9