Afghan Refugees: Current Status and Future Prospects

^Pr^ep^ar^{ed f}^o^r^M^e^m^b^ers^an^d^Com^mⁱ^t^t^ees^of^C^ong^r^e^ss

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has helped 3.69 million Afghan
refugees return to Afghanistan since March 2002, marking the largest assisted return operation in
its history. In addition, more than 1.11 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan without
availing themselves of UNHCR’s assistance, bringing the total number of returnees to at least 4.8
million. Despite the massive returns, possibly 3.5 million registered and unregistered Afghans
still remain in these two countries of asylum—up to 2.46 million in Pakistan and more than
900,000 in Iran—making Afghans the second-largest refugee population in the world. These
numbers are far greater than the initial working assumption in 2002 of 3.5 million refugees; in
fact, the total is believed to be more than 8 million. The United States spent approximately
$332.37 million between FY 2002 and FY 2005 on humanitarian assistance to Afghan refugees
and returnees through the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
(PRM). It continues to provide support to refugees and returnees.
The 110^th Congress faces several relevant challenges. The safe and voluntary return of refugees to
Afghanistan is not only a major part of the U.S. reconstruction effort in Afghanistan, but also an
important indicator of its success. To the extent that refugees continue to return, it can be seen
that Afghans are taking part in the future of their country. It is becoming more difficult, however,
to encourage refugees to return. Those who were most capable of returning did so in the early
years; those who remain have progressively less to return to—houses, livelihoods, family—in
Afghanistan. Furthermore, maintaining the high pace of returns will require greater levels of
reintegration assistance to anchor returnees in their homes and help them reestablish their lives in
Afghanistan. Security will also be a major factor in population displacement within and across
borders.
The status of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran has also been somewhat controversial in
recent years as these governments want all Afghan refugees to return to Afghanistan. Officials in
Pakistan have become concerned that the concentrations of Afghans in the country pose a security
and crime risk, as individuals and goods are smuggled across the border. At the same time,
however, many observers argue that Afghan labor migration may be beneficial to both Iran and
Pakistan—which take advantage of cheap and effective immigrant labor—as well as Afghanistan,
whose citizens benefit heavily from remittances sent in from abroad. To cut off this source of
income for many poor Afghans could have disastrous consequences—not only humanitarian, but
in the security sphere as well, as more than a million Afghans along the Afghan-Pakistan border
are deprived of livelihoods and resort to other means to feed their families. Reportedly, many
Afghans cross the border regularly, without documentation, and Islamabad does not appear to
have the resources to control this flow. A future challenge will thus be to balance reasonable
concerns about security with the importance of Afghanistan’s labor plans in the regional
economies and the forces that drive its migration patterns. It remains to be seen what effect the
Pakistani government’s recently announced plans for controlling and securing the Afghan border,
through the construction of fences and planting of landmines, will have on refugee movements.
This report will be updated.

Overvi ew ....................................................................................................................... .................. 1
Afghan Refugees: Historical Background.......................................................................................2
Profile of Remaining Refugees.......................................................................................................3
Refugees in Pakistan.................................................................................................................3
Population Breakdown........................................................................................................3
Historical Background and Status of Afghans....................................................................5
Pakistan’s Economic and Security Concerns......................................................................6
Regi strati on ......................................................................................................................... 8
Future Prospects..................................................................................................................9
Refugees in Iran........................................................................................................................9
Population Breakdown........................................................................................................9
Historical Background and Status of Afghans....................................................................9
Labor Migration................................................................................................................10
Concerns and Future Prospects..........................................................................................11
U.S. Assistance for Afghan Refugees............................................................................................12
Funding Partners.....................................................................................................................13
Supported Activities................................................................................................................13
Issues for Congress........................................................................................................................14
Establishing USG Funding......................................................................................................14
Sustainability of Returns.........................................................................................................15
New Political Arrangements in South Asia.............................................................................15
Figure 1. Afghans in Pakistan: Ethnicity.........................................................................................4
Figure 2. Afghans in Pakistan: Year of First Arrival.......................................................................5
Table 1. Refugee Returns Since March 2002..................................................................................1
Table 2. USG Assistance to Afghan Refugees and Returnees.......................................................13
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................16

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has helped over 3.69 million
Afghan refugees return to Afghanistan since March of 2002, marking the largest assisted return ²
operation in UNHCR’s history. In addition, more than a million refugees have returned to
Afghanistan without availing themselves of UNHCR’s assistance (also known as “spontaneous
returns”) bringing the total number of returnees to 4.8 million or more. Almost all of these
Afghans have returned from neighboring Iran and Pakistan, where the vast majority of Afghan ³
refugees have lived for well over two decades (see Table 1).
Table 1. Refugee Returns Since March 2002
^Year^Pakistan^assisted^Pakistan^unassisted^a^Iran^assisted^Iran^unassisted^a^Other^Countries^b^Total
²⁰⁰²^c^1,53^2,66⁴^194,¹²⁷^259,⁶⁶²^155,²⁴⁸^9,67⁹^2,15^1,38⁰
²⁰⁰^{3 341,}⁰⁶⁶^45,1²⁵^131,⁷⁷⁸^119,⁶⁰⁴^1,17⁶^638,⁷⁴⁹
²⁰⁰^{4 381,}²⁵¹^41,1⁰³^375,⁶¹⁹^76,2³¹⁶²⁷^874,⁸³¹
²⁰⁰^{5 452,}⁶⁵⁸^11,5⁹⁷^65,5²⁶^225,⁶⁶²^1,45^4*^756,⁸⁹⁷
²⁰⁰^{6 133,}³³⁸^9,68¹^5,26⁴^238,³⁸⁴^1,20²^387,⁸⁶⁹
^{Totals 2,84}^0,97⁷^301,⁶³³^837,⁸⁴⁹^815,¹²⁹^14,1³⁸^4,80^9,72⁶
^Source:^“Afgha^{n Repat}^{riation Operation 2}⁰⁰⁶^{Weekly Statistics Report,” UNHCR, December}^31,²⁰^06.
^a.^{Unassisted “sponta}^{neous re}^tur^ns^{” totals are UNHCR estimates ba}^{sed on border monitor re}^ports.^These
^num^{bers s}^{hould be co}^{nsidered as}^{rough estimates}^{for seve}^{ral reas}^{ons: (1) border monitors were}ⁿ^{ot in}
^{place at all times due to security}^{concerns; (}^{2) many}^Afgha^{ns, as discussed}^{below, like}^{ly crossed at u}^nofficial
^{crossings; and (3) it is not always}^{possible to distinguish retu}^rning^r^efugees^{from other}^border-cross^ers.
^b.^{All “Other” figures a}^{re UN}^{HCR-assisted, except for}²⁰^{05, w}^{hich i}^{ncludes 3}⁵⁰^una^{ssisted retu}^rnees^.
^c.^{Figures for 2}⁰⁰²^{include a}ⁿ^u^nkn^{own num}^ber^{of “recyclers”—i.e., refugee}^{s who crossed t}^he^{border more}
^{than twice in order}^{to receive m}^{ultiple repatriation packages. Begi}^{nning in}²⁰^{03, UN}^{HCR instituted}
^{biometric identification of return}^{ees, virtually eliminating “recycling.”}
Issues of particular concern to the 110^th Congress are 1) continuing and sustaining refugee returns
as part of Afghanistan’s overall reconstruction; 2) developing funding strategies for the next
phase of Afghanistan’s remaining refugees; and 3) examining the refugee situation in light of
border security issues, particularly with regard to Pakistan’s recently announced plan to lay land ⁴
mines and build a fence along its border with Afghanistan. In the long term, the impact of

¹^A^fⁱ^rst^d^r^af^t^o^f^t^hⁱ^s^rep^o^r^t^w^a^{s co}^-au^t^h^o^r^e^d^wⁱ^t^h^Danⁱ^el^Kron^en^f^e^l^d^,^{a research}^asso^ci^at^{e at}^CRS^oⁿ^r^o^t^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^f^r^o^m^t^h^e
^S^t^at^{e Dep}^a^rt^m^eⁿ^t^.
²^{UNHCR i}^s^t^h^{e U.}^N.^agen^cy^d^e^dⁱ^cat^ed^t^o^t^h^{e p}^r^o^t^ectⁱ^o^{n o}^f^ref^u^gee^s^an^d^o^t^h^e^r^p^o^p^u^l^atⁱ^oⁿ^s^dⁱ^s^p^l^aced^b^y^coⁿ^f^lⁱ^c^t^,
^f^a^mⁱ^ne^{, a}^{nd na}^tur^a^l^dis^a^s^t^e^r^s^.^I^t^pr^ov^ide^s^le^g^a^{l pr}^ote^c^tio^ns^{, im}^ple^m^ents^lo^ng^-^t^e^r^m^s^o^lutions^{, a}ⁿ^d^c^oor^dina^te^s^e^m^e^r^g^e^ncy
^h^u^m^anⁱ^t^a^ri^an^relⁱ^e^f^f^o^{r re}^f^u^gee^s^aⁿ^d^o^t^h^e^r^dⁱ^spl^aced^p^e^rsoⁿ^s^.^F^o^{r mo}^{re i}ⁿ^f^o^rm^atⁱ^oⁿ^{see CRS}^Rep^o^r^t^RL³¹⁶⁹^0,^Un^ite^d
^Na^tion^s^High^C^o^mmissioⁿ^e^{r f}^o^r^Refu^g^{ees (}^U^NHCR)^{, by}^Rhoda^M^a^rg^e^{sson a}^{nd Jo}^ha^nna^B^o^c^k^m^a^{n. Se}^e^a^l^{so, UNHCR}
^“^A^f^g^ha^nis^t^aⁿ^Situa^tⁱ^oⁿ^O^p^e^r^a^tioⁿ^a^{l U}^pda^te^,”^Se^pte^m^be^r²⁰^06.
³^Iⁿ^v^a^s^tly^sm^a^lle^r^num^be^r^s^{, pop}^ul^a^tions^of^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^r^e^f^u^g^e^e^s^a^r^e^a^l^{so in}^ot^he^r^c^o^uⁿ^tr^ie^s^,^no^ta^bly^R^u^s^sⁱ^a^,^ot^he^r^C^e^ntr^a^l
^A^s^ia^{n R}^e^public^s^,^Eur^ope^,^N^o^r^t^h^A^m^e^r^ic^a^,^A^u^s^t^r^a^lia^{, a}^{nd I}ⁿ^dia^.
⁴^“P^aki^s^t^aⁿ^P^l^aⁿ^{s t}^o^Reiⁿ^f^o^{rce L}^oⁿ^g^Afgh^an^Bo^rd^er,^”^{New Y}^o^{rk Tim}^e^s^{, D}^e^c^e^m^b^e^r^{27, 2}⁰⁰⁶^.

Afghan migration trends may need to be better understood in light of its potential impact on
political arrangements in South Asia.

Afghans began fleeing their country in April 1978, when the Marxist People’s Democratic Party
of Afghanistan (PDPA), overthrew the government of Muhammad Daoud (who had himself
seized power from his cousin Afghan king Zahir Shah in a bloodless coup in 1973). The trickle of
refugees accelerated when the Soviet Union invaded in December 1979, ostensibly to restore
order to the country as the PDPA became increasingly splintered. While political infighting was
certainly a problem, some observers also noted that Afghanistan’s leadership had begun irking
Moscow by making decisions without Soviet approval. The Soviet attempt to subjugate the
Afghans was at times particularly brutal, including the alleged use of torture and collective ⁵⁶
punishment. By the beginning of 1981, some 3.7 million refugees had fled to Iran and Pakistan.
Smaller numbers of refugees continued to flee Afghanistan for the next decade, as the Soviets
fought an insurgency mounted by a loosely allied group of mujahideen, or holy warriors. In 1988,
the Soviet Union agreed to withdraw from Afghanistan, and UNHCR and the international ⁷
assistance community prepared for the massive repatriation of refugees. Large-scale returns did
not begin until 1992, however, when the Soviet-installed leader Najibullah was finally forced
from power. No sooner had some million and a half refugees returned, however, than Kabul
descended into armed disorder as various mujahideen factions began fighting for control of the
capital and the surrounding area. A new wave of people was displaced (possibly up to a million),
a majority of whom remained within Afghanistan’s borders as internally displaced people ⁸
(IDPs). After a year-long siege, the Taliban took Kabul in 1996, and had gained control of most
of the country by 1998. Although they brought a measure of peace to the areas they captured,
many Afghans, especially the educated, fled the Taliban’s particularly austere vision of Islamic
propriety, with its severe restrictions on women’s activities, education, and social and cultural ⁹
life.
A final wave of refugees numbering 200,000 to 300,000 left Afghanistan during the U.S.-led
invasion of October 2001. With the defeat of the Taliban a month later, UNHCR led consultations
with the three governments centrally involved in the Afghan refugee issues—Pakistan , Iran, and ¹⁰
Afghanistan—and began planning for another mass repatriation. Beginning in 2002, UNHCR
along with Afghanistan, established separate Tripartite Agreements with Pakistan and Iran to
provide a legal and operational framework for voluntary repatriations from each country. These

⁵^Kakar,^M^.^Hasan^,^Afg^h^aⁿ^is^ta^n:^T^h^e^Sov^ie^{t I}ⁿ^v^a^sⁱ^on^an^{d t}^h^e^Af^gh^aⁿ^Re^s^p^oⁿ^s^e^{, 1}⁹⁷⁹^-¹⁹⁸²^,^Berkel^ey,^Unⁱ^v^ersi^t^y^o^f
^C^a^lif^or^nia^P^r^e^s^s^,¹⁹⁹⁵^{, c}^h^.^1.
⁶^T^u^r^t^on,^D^a^vⁱ^{d, a}ⁿ^d^P^e^te^r^Ma^r^s^de^n,^T^a^kⁱⁿ^g^Re^fu^ge^e^s^for^{a Ri}^de^{? T}^h^e^Poli^tic^s^of^Re^fu^ge^e^Re^turⁿ^t^o^A^f^gh^anis^t^an^,^K^a^b^u^l:
^Afgh^anⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^Research^an^d^E^v^al^u^a^tⁱ^o^{n Un}ⁱ^t^(A^RE^U),^Dece^m^b^{er 2}⁰⁰²^,^p.¹¹^.
⁷^{UNHCR wa}^{s inv}^o^lv^e^d^{in m}^a^ssive^c^a^m^p^m^a^na^g^e^m^e^{nt in}^P^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿⁱⁿ^the¹⁹^80s^bu^{t the}^r^e^w^a^s^{no a}^s^sⁱ^s^t^e^d^r^e^pa^tr^ia^tioⁿ
^uⁿ^tⁱ^l¹⁹⁸⁹^.
⁸^Re^patri^ati^{on U}^nde^{r Co}^nflic^t:^{A R}^e^vⁱ^e^w^{of the}^Eⁿ^c^a^sh^me^nt^Pro^g^ra^mme^{for Afg}^h^aⁿ^Re^fu^ge^e^sⁱⁿ^Pakⁱ^stan^{. G}^e^ne^v^a^:
^{UNHCR Resear}^ch^an^d^E^v^al^u^a^tⁱ^on^Di^vi^si^oⁿ^,¹⁹⁹⁴^.
⁹^F^o^{r m}^o^{re o}ⁿ^t^h^{e A}^f^gh^anⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^uⁿ^d^{er t}^h^{e T}^a^lⁱ^b^an^,^{see Rash}ⁱ^d^,^A^h^me^d^,^T^a^li^ba^{n: M}^ilit^{ant Isl}^a^{m, Oil}^aⁿ^d
^F^u^nd^a^m^eⁿ^ta^lⁱ^s^mⁱⁿ^C^eⁿ^t^ra^l^A^s^ia^,^Ne^w^Hav^eⁿ^:^{Yale Un}^iversit^y^P^r^ess,²⁰⁰¹^.
¹⁰^Se^e^U^N^H^C^R^“A^f^g^ha^nis^t^aⁿ^Situa^t^{ion O}^p^e^r^a^tiona^l^U^pda^te^,”^Se^pte^m^be^r²⁰⁰⁶^.

agreements have been renewed several times since then.¹¹ The working assumption at the time
was that there were approximately 2 million refugees in Pakistan and 1.5 million in Iran. Almost
everyone was caught off-guard, when subsequently 2.15 million Afghans returned in 2002, and
yet most of the camps in Pakistan (and to some extent the cities in Iran) continued to house large
numbers of Afghan refugees. It turned out that there were far more Afghans living in Pakistan
than most analysts had thought. Although the numbers of returns declined in subsequent years, it ¹²
can be seen from Table 1 that through 2005 the pace remained very strong.

UNHCR estimates that, as of December 2006, perhaps 2.46 million registered and unregistered
Afghans are currently living in Pakistan and more than 900,000 in Iran. Who among these
Afghans is a refugee and who is not is a matter of debate in each country. Still, perhaps as many
as 3.5 million registered and unregistered Afghans still live in exile. In Pakistan, 80 percent of ¹³
those remaining have been there for more than two decades; 50 percent were born in exile.

A census was completed by UNHCR and the Government of Pakistan (GoP) in March of 2002
that provided a clear picture, for the first time in years, of the Afghan population in Pakistan. The
census found 3,049,268 Afghans living in Pakistan, 42% of them in camps and 58% in urban
areas. Over 81% of the Afghans were Pashtuns, with much smaller percentages of Tajiks, Uzbeks,
Turkmen, and other ethnic groups (see Figure 1).

¹¹^R^e^f^u^g^e^e^is^s^u^e^s^ha^v^e^a^l^s^o^be^eⁿⁱⁿ^c^o^r^por^a^t^e^dⁱⁿ^br^oa^de^r^dis^c^us^sⁱ^ons^{, f}^o^r^e^x^am^ple^,^{in the}²⁰^{06 L}^o^nd^oⁿ^C^o^m^p^a^c^t^{, w}^h^ic^h
^f^o^c^u^s^e^s^{on s}^t^a^b^ility^{, re}^c^ons^truc^ti^oⁿ^{, a}ⁿ^{d de}^v^e^lo^pm^eⁿ^{t is}^s^u^e^s^{. For}^ba^c^k^g^r^{ound i}ⁿ^f^o^rm^a^{tion a}^{nd r}^ecen^t^d^e^vel^o^p^m^en^t^s^oⁿ
^Afg^h^an^istan^,^{see CRS Rep}^o^{rt RL}³⁰⁵⁸⁸^,^Af^gh^anis^t^an:^Pos^t^-^W^ar^G^o^v^e^r^nanc^e^,^Se^c^u^r^ity^{, a}ⁿ^d^U^.^S.^Po^lⁱ^c^y^{, by}^K^e^nne^th
^Katz^m^aⁿ^.
¹²^By^c^ontra^{st, the}ⁿ^u^m^b^e^r^of^Inte^rna^lly^Displa^c^e^{d P}^e^rsoⁿ^{s (ID}^P^s^{) w}^{ithin A}^f^g^h^aⁿ^ista^{n is e}^s^tim^a^t^e^d^{to be}¹⁵^0,0⁰⁰^.^S^o^m^e
^fⁱ^g^u^r^e^s^s^ugg^e^s^{t tha}^t^{up t}^o⁵⁰^0,0⁰⁰^I^D^P^s^ha^v^e^r^e^turⁿ^e^d^to^theⁱ^r^hom^e^s^sⁱ^nc^e²⁰^02.
¹³^{UNHCR rep}^o^r^t,^Afg^h^aⁿ^istaⁿ^Situ^atio^{n: Ope}^r^a^tio^nal^Upd^a^te^{, Se}^pte^m^be^r^2006.
¹⁴^For^m^o^r^e^g^e^ne^r^a^{l inf}^o^r^m^a^{tion on}^P^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^{, s}^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^p^o^r^t^R^L³³⁴^98,^Pakⁱ^s^t^an-^U^.^{S. Re}^l^a^tio^ns^,^by^K^.^A^l^aⁿ
^K^r^ons^ta^dt.

Figure 1. Afghans in Pakistan: Ethnicity
^O^th^er^B^al^o^c^hi^1.^7%^T^ur^k^m^aⁿ^2.^0%
^3.^9%^H^az^a^ra
^1.^3%
^U^zb^e^k
^2.³^%
^Tajⁱ^k
^7.^3%
^P^as^h^t^uⁿ
⁸¹^.⁵⁰^%
^Source:^Census^{of Afghans in Pakistan, 2005}^{, Ministry of States and}^{Frontier Regions, Governme}^{nt of Pakistan, p.}
^9.
The census revealed two related factors that could have profound implications for the future of
repatriation from Pakistan. First, the vast majority of Afghan families in Pakistan arrived in the
first years of the refugee crisis; over 50% arrived in 1979 and 1980 alone. Second, it appears that
a very substantial number of the Afghans remaining in Pakistan were in fact born in Pakistan—¹⁵
not Afghanistan (see Figure 2). Encouraging Afghans who have been living for two and a half
decades outside their country—some of whom, in fact, may never have even set foot in
Afghanistan—to repatriate may be a distinct challenge in the coming months and years.

¹⁵^T^h^e^c^eⁿ^s^u^s^e^s^tim^a^t^e^s^tha^t^56.^2%^of^the^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^r^e^f^u^g^e^e^popula^tⁱ^oⁿ^is^un^de^r^the^a^g^e^of^eⁱ^g^h^te^eⁿ^{. Si}^nc^e^the^c^eⁿ^s^u^s
^dir^e^c^tly^a^s^s^e^s^s^e^{d only}^the^num^be^r^of^r^e^s^pon^de^nts^u^nde^r^the^a^g^e^of^fⁱ^v^e⁽^19.1%⁾^,^the^ov^e^r^a^{ll a}^g^e^pr^of^ile^of^the
^pop^ula^tⁱ^on^is^e^s^tim^a^t^e^d^b^y^e^x^tr^a^p^ola^tio^{n ba}^s^e^d^on^de^ta^ile^d^de^m^o^g^r^a^phic^inf^o^r^m^a^{tion a}^v^a^ila^ble^f^r^om^r^e^pa^tr^ia^tion^da^ta^.
^A^c^c^o^rding^to^the^c^eⁿ^sus,⁸⁰^.6%^o^f^the^Afg^h^aⁿ^f^a^m^ilie^{s in P}^a^kⁱ^staⁿ^a^rriv^e^{d ov}^e^r^eⁱ^g^h^te^eⁿ^y^e^a^r^{s a}^g^{o. A}^ppl^yⁱ^ng^this
^pe^r^c^eⁿ^ta^g^e^{to the}^u^nde^r^-^e^ig^hte^eⁿ^pop^ula^tⁱ^on,^{it m}^a^y^r^oug^hly^be^e^s^tim^a^t^e^d^a^t^le^a^s^{t 45%}^of^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^s^{in P}^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^w^e^r^e
^bor^{n in}^P^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^{. (}^C^eⁿ^s^u^s^,^op^.^ci^t.^{, pp}^{. 1}⁵^-¹⁹⁾

Figure 2. Afghans in Pakistan: Year of First Arrival
^Source:^Census^{of Afghans in Pakistan, 2005}^{, Ministry of States and}^{Frontier Regions, Governme}^{nt of Pakistan, p.}
^9.
Although most Afghans in Pakistan date their arrival to the early years of the Soviet occupation,
agricultural and economic instability have long been a feature of life in the highlands of
Afghanistan, and for centuries Afghans have migrated in response to crop failures, drought, and ¹⁶
other problems, often across international borders, to look for temporary work. While the
numbers crossing into Pakistan in 1979 and 1980 probably dwarfed any previous population
flows, many of the fleeing Afghans had connections—social networks, kinship ties, economic
contacts—in Pakistan that helped ease their transition.
For the first decade and a half of the refugee crisis, the GoP, although it has never signed the 1951 ¹⁷
Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol, was relatively tolerant in its treatment of Afghan

¹⁶^Kakar,^M^.^Hasan^.^G^o^v^e^r^nm^eⁿ^{t a}^nd^Soc^ie^tyⁱⁿ^Af^gh^anis^t^an:^The^Re^ign^{of Am}^ir^‘^A^b^d^a^l^-^R^a^h^m^a^{n K}^h^aⁿ^{, A}^u^{stin, T}^X^:
^Uⁿ^iv^e^r^sⁱ^t^y^of^Te^xa^s^P^r^e^s^s^,¹⁹⁷⁹^,^pp.¹²^2-¹²⁶^{; Sm}^{ith, H}^a^r^v^ey^H^e^nr^y^et^a^l^.,^Ar^e^a^H^a^nd^bo^ok^for^A^f^g^h^anis^t^an^.
^W^a^s^h^ing^t^{on, D}^.^C^.^:^Uⁿ^ite^{d Sta}^t^e^s^G^o^v^e^rⁿ^m^e^nt^P^r^intⁱ^ng^O^f^fⁱ^ce^{, 196}^{9, p}^p^.⁶⁵^{, 3}¹¹^;^C^o^lle^c^tiv^e^f^o^r^Socⁱ^a^l^Sc^ie^nc^e
^Research^,^Afgha^{ns i}ⁿ^Kar^a^c^h^{i: M}ⁱ^grati^oⁿ^,^Se^ttle^me^nt^a^nd^Socⁱ^a^{l N}^e^twork^s^{, K}^a^{bul: A}^R^EU^{, Ma}^r^c^h²⁰⁰⁵^{, p}^.⁸^.
¹⁷^T^h^e¹⁹⁵^{1 C}^onv^eⁿ^ti^{on r}^e^la^ti^ng^to^the^Sta^t^us^of^R^e^f^u^g^e^e^s^{, s}ⁱ^gⁿ^e^d^by¹⁴³^s^t^a^t^e^s^{, is}^the^prⁱⁿ^cⁱ^pa^{l le}^g^a^{l d}^o^c^u^m^e^nt
^e^s^ta^blis^hing^w^{ho is}^a^r^e^f^u^g^e^e^,^w^h^a^t^rⁱ^g^h^ts^the^y^ha^v^e^{, a}^{nd w}^h^a^t^le^g^a^{l ob}^lig^a^tions^s^t^a^t^e^s^ha^v^e^{. T}^h^e¹⁹⁶⁷^P^r^otoc^o^l^,
^de^sⁱ^gⁿ^e^d^to^u^pda^te^t^h^e^or^ig^ina^l^C^onv^eⁿ^ti^on^by^{, am}^ong^othe^r^t^h^ing^s^{, br}^oa^deⁿⁱ^ng^its^s^c^ope^be^y^{ond the}^im^plic^itl^y
^E^u^rop^ean^f^o^cu^{s o}^f^t^h^e^o^rⁱ^gⁱⁿ^al^docu^m^en^t^,ⁱ^s^coⁿ^sⁱ^d^ered^t^o^h^a^{ve t}^h^{e sa}^m^e^l^e^g^a^l^f^o^{rce a}^s^t^h^{e 1}⁹⁵¹^C^o^nven^tⁱ^oⁿ^.^T^h^e
^Unⁱ^t^e^d^S^t^at^{es i}^s^oⁿ^e^o^f^t^h^{ree co}^unt^ri^{es t}^h^atⁱ^s^{a si}^gn^at^o^r^y^t^o^t^h^e^P^r^ot^o^c^o^l^b^u^t^no^t^t^h^{e Con}^v^en^tⁱ^oⁿ^.^T^h^e^m^o^st^recen^t
^sⁱ^gⁿ^a^t^or^y^{to bot}^{h d}^o^c^u^m^e^nts^is^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^is^ta^{n, w}^h^ic^{h s}ⁱ^gⁿ^e^d^on^A^u^g^u^s^t^30,²⁰⁰⁵^{. F}^o^r^t^h^e^te^x^t^of^the^C^o^nv^eⁿ^tio^{n a}ⁿ^d^ot^he^r
^inf^o^r^m^a^{tion, s}^e^e^http:/^/w^w^w^.unhc^r^.^or^g^/^c^g^i-^bin/^te^xⁱ^s^/^v^t^x^/^pr^ote^c^t^?ⁱ^d=^3c⁰⁷^62e^a⁴^.

refugees.¹⁸ Several dozen camps were set up beginning in 1979, most of them in the Northwest
Frontier Province (NWFP) and a few in Balochistan. Although the GoP did not allow the
primarily rural Afghans to own or work the land, it did permit them to freely move and work
within the country. Nevertheless, it was assumed at the time that most Afghans remained in the
camps, where they received food rations, along with basic health and educational services. (The
subsequent realization that there were far more Afghans in Pakistan than anyone knew suggests ¹⁹
that urbanization was far more extensive during this period.) The camps were, and are, overseen
by UNHCR and the Pakistani Chief Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CCAR), a division of
the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON). UNHCR and CCAR contracted with a
number of international and local NGOs to provide health, education, water, and sanitation
services in the camps. These have included major U.S.-based NGOs, including Mercy Corps,
International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, American Refugee Committee, Church
World Service, and others.
In 1995, the World Food Programme (WFP) determined that Afghans were capable of providing
for their own food needs, and it ceased providing rations to the camps. The GoP’s position toward
the refugees began to harden as the flow of international aid began to diminish, and more Afghans ²⁰
were driven into cities to look for work. With the cessation of food aid, the sole identity
document given to Afghans, a refugee passbook, became meaningless; therefore, Afghans (until
very recently) had no identification in Pakistan, a factor that doubtless contributed to the general
uncertainty about their numbers.
With the defeat of the Taliban, the GoP began strongly advocating that conditions were ²¹
appropriate for the return of all Afghans to Afghanistan. The GoP appears to have both
economic and security concerns about the Afghan population in Pakistan. On the economic level,
some Pakistani politicians believe that Afghans are taking jobs that might otherwise go to
Pakistanis. Additionally, Afghans are reportedly willing to work for lower wages than Pakistanis,
causing some Pakistanis to believe that wage levels are being depressed. Some recent research
has shown that several business sectors—particularly transport and construction—make heavy ²²
use of Afghan labor. Economic worries about the Afghan population have become more
persistent in recent years, as the overall level of international funding for refugees in Pakistan has
decreased. The census provided more fuel for this concern when it revealed that, despite the
record repatriation, millions of Afghans still remain in Pakistan.

¹⁸^Un^d^e^{r t}^h^{e 19}⁵¹^Con^v^en^tⁱ^oⁿ^,^{a re}^f^u^ge^{e i}^s^l^e^gal^l^y^d^e^fⁱⁿ^e^d^{as a p}^e^rson^f^l^eeiⁿ^g^hⁱ^{s o}^r^h^e^{r co}^un^t^r^y^b^ecau^{se o}^f^p^e^rsecu^tⁱ^oⁿ
^or^“^o^wⁱ^ng^{to a}^w^e^ll-^f^ounde^{d f}^e^a^r^of^be^ing^pe^r^s^e^c^u^te^{d f}^o^r^r^e^a^s^ons^of^r^{ace, relig}^ioⁿ^,ⁿ^a^tioⁿ^a^lity^,^m^e^m^b^ersh^ip^o^f^a
^pa^rtic^ula^r^socⁱ^a^l^g^r^o^up^or^pol^itic^a^l^opiⁿⁱ^on,^{is o}^u^tside^of^the^c^o^uⁿ^try^of^{his na}^ti^ona^lity^a^{nd is}^una^ble^or^{, ow}^ing^{to suc}^h
^f^e^a^r^{, is unw}^illing^t^o^a^v^a^{il him}^s^e^l^f^of^the^pro^t^e^c^tion^of^tha^t^c^o^untry^.”^Cha^p^te^r^{1, A}^r^tic^le^{1 (A}^{) 2.}
¹⁹^Un^til²⁰⁰¹^{, UNHCR b}^e^liev^e^d^th^{ere were ap}^p^r^o^x^imatel^y²^m^illioⁿ^ref^u^g^{ees in}^P^a^kⁱ^stan^{(see, f}^o^{r in}^st^an^{ce, UNHCR-}
^P^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^’s^w^e^bs^ite^a^t^http^://w^w^w^.^un.^org^/^pk^/^unhc^r/^A^f^s^t^a^t^s^-^s^t^a^t^.htm^l⁾^{. Sinc}^e^t^h^a^t^tim^e^ov^e^r^3.6⁹^m^illio^{n ha}^v^e^re^turne^d^,
^cau^siⁿ^g^o^b^s^{ervers t}^o^qu^estⁱ^oⁿ^earlⁱ^{er est}ⁱ^m^at^{es (see}^T^u^rt^oⁿ^and^M^a^r^s^d^eⁿ^,^op.^cⁱ^t^.).
²⁰^T^u^r^t^{on a}^nd^Ma^r^s^de^n,^op^{. c}ⁱ^t^.,^p^p^.^13-¹⁶^.
²¹^S^ee,^f^o^{r i}ⁿ^st^an^ce,^t^h^{e st}^at^em^en^t^b^y^P^a^ki^st^anⁱ^S^ecret^ar^y^o^f^S^t^at^{es an}^d^F^r^oⁿ^tⁱ^e^{r Regi}^on^{s S}^a^jⁱ^d^Hu^ssaiⁿ^Ch^at^t^h^a,
^de^liv^e^r^e^d^a^t^the^Str^a^te^gⁱ^c^C^o^ns^ult^a^tions^{on A}^f^g^h^aⁿ^R^e^f^u^g^e^e^s^a^{nd Popu}^la^tio^{n M}^o^v^e^m^e^nts^{to a}ⁿ^{d f}^r^om^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^is^ta^{n in}
^G^e^nev^a^{, O}^c^tobe^r^7,²⁰^05.
²²^Co^l^l^ectⁱ^v^{e f}^o^{r S}^o^ci^al^S^cⁱ^eⁿ^{ce Research}^,^o^p^.^ci^t^.

In addition to their economic impact, some Pakistani leaders are concerned that Afghans represent
a security risk for Pakistan. These fears concern lawlessness, terrorism, and anti-government
activity. There is a perception among many Pakistanis, including government officials, that
Afghans are responsible for a great deal of the smuggling of stolen goods, narcotics, and
weaponry across Pakistan’s western border. The so-called “smugglers’ markets”on the outskirts of
Peshawar and Quetta, for instance, where one can allegedly buy anything from counterfeit
passports to heroin to Kalashnikovs, are alleged to be run by Afghans and to flourish because of ²³
their proximity to Afghanistan. Pakistani police, in justifying their sweeps through Afghan ²⁴
areas, have cited the imperative to crack down on crime.
One of the reasons the smugglers’ markets have been difficult for Islamabad to deal with is that
they exist in the so-called Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), where the central ²⁵
government’s writ is weak. Although each of the FATA’s seven agencies is ostensibly governed
by a “political agent” appointed by the government in Islamabad, in practice the tribal areas are
ruled by traditional Pashtun leaders, exercising a blend of personal decree, Islamic law (sharia),
and traditional Pashtun legal practices known collectively as pushtunwali. Despite Islamic
proscriptions against drugs and alcohol, the smugglers’ markets have been an important source of ²⁶
revenue for some FATA leaders, who continue to permit this operation.
It is not merely lost economic revenue or local law and order that concerns Pakistani government
officials. Many experts and officials believe that the FATA is being used as a staging area for
militant activity, some of it directed against coalition forces in neighboring Afghanistan and some
against the Pakistani government. This worry has grown more acute in the wake of several
assassination attempts against Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf. In light of the difficult to
verify but nevertheless oft-stated presumption that Osama bin Laden and other senior members of
Al Qaeda are hiding in the mountainous tribal areas of Pakistan, perhaps with the knowledge of ²⁷
local leaders, the government’s efforts to gain control over these areas have gained urgency.
Security was considered to be one of the reasons behind the GoP’s decision to close all of the
remaining refugee camps in the FATA. The GoP had for at least two years declared its desire to
clear out the FATA camps, but only began the operation in summer 2005 when it closed refugee
camps in South Waziristan Agency. Camps in North Waziristan were next with the most recent

²³^T^h^{e p}^e^rcep^tⁱ^o^{n t}^h^at^t^h^{e m}^a^rketⁱ^s^ru^{n b}^y^Afgh^an^{s was p}^r^eval^en^t^a^m^oⁿ^g^m^aⁿ^y^P^a^ki^st^anⁱ^sⁱⁿ^Isl^a^m^a^b^a^d^an^d^P^e^s^h^aw^ar,
ⁱⁿ^cl^udⁱⁿ^{g o}^f^fⁱ^ci^al^{s o}^f^N^G^Os,^t^h^{e G}^o^P^,^and^t^h^{e US}^G^.^F^o^{r repo}^rt^s^oⁿ^t^h^{e sm}^u^ggl^ers’^mark^et^{s see Beh}^a^r,^Ri^ch^ard^,
^“^K^idna^ppe^{d N}^a^tio^n,”^Fo^r^t^un^e^{, A}^p^r^il^29,²⁰⁰²^,^p.^84.^O^b^s^e^r^v^e^r^s^po^int^out^the^G^o^P^’^s^r^o^le^{in t}^o^le^r^a^tin^g^—^a^{nd pe}^r^h^a^p^s
^e^v^eⁿ^prof^iting^f^r^om^—the^s^m^ugg^l^e^rs’^m^a^rke^t^{s. Se}^e^Buk^h^a^r^i,^Huz^aⁱ^m^a^a^{nd Ik}^ra^m^u^{l Ha}^{q, “}^R^a^m^pa^{nt Corru}^ptio^{n a}ⁿ^{d Ro}^le
^of^NA^B^,^”^Bu^sin^e^{ss Reco}^rd^er^{, Fe}^b^r^ua^r^y^{18, 20}⁰⁵^.
²⁴^D.^Kroⁿ^eⁿ^f^el^d^’^{s i}ⁿ^t^e^rvi^e^w^s^wⁱ^t^h^ret^u^rn^ed^A^f^gh^an^re^f^u^{gees at}^UNH^{CR’s Kab}^u^l^Eⁿ^cash^m^en^t^/^T^r^aⁿ^sⁱ^tⁱ^oⁿ^Cent^er,
^A^u^gu^st^an^d^S^e^p^t^em^b^e^{r 2}⁰⁰⁵^.^S^{ee al}^so^“P^o^lⁱ^tⁱ^cal^A^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^s^A^s^ked^t^o^M^aⁱⁿ^t^aⁱⁿ^P^{eace i}ⁿ^F^A^T^A^,^”^Baloc^h^istaⁿ
^Tim^e^s⁽^P^a^k^is^taⁿ⁾^{, O}^c^t^obe^r^5,²⁰⁰⁵^{; a}ⁿ^{d “}⁴^00,⁰⁰^{0 A}^f^g^h^aⁿ^R^e^f^u^g^e^e^s^R^e^pa^tr^ia^te^{d f}^r^om^P^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^T^h^is^Y^e^a^r^,”^Pakⁱ^s^t^an
^Pre^{ss Inte}^rnati^oⁿ^a^{l I}ⁿ^format^io^{n S}^e^rv^ic^e^s^{, Se}^ptem^be^r^26,²⁰^05.
²⁵^Se^e^I^v^aⁿ^W^a^ts^{on, “}^P^a^k^is^ta^{ni G}^ove^rⁿ^m^e^nt’^s^A^tte^m^p^{t to G}^a^{in Contr}^o^{l of}^L^a^w^l^e^ss^T^r^iba^l^Re^gⁱ^ons,”^A^l^{l T}^hⁱⁿ^g^s
^Coⁿ^sⁱ^d^ered^,^aⁱ^r^e^d^{on N}^a^ti^ona^l^Pu^blic^R^a^di^{o o}ⁿ^N^o^v^e^m^b^e^r^4,2⁰⁰⁴^;^a^{nd Mic}^h^a^e^l^A^.^L^e^v^,^“^B^a^z^a^a^r^P^r^o^vⁱ^de^s^C^l^ue^s^{to H}^o^w
^Bⁱ^{n L}^a^de^{n Mig}^h^t^Fle^e^,^”^Chic^a^{go Tribu}ⁿ^e,^Decem^b^e^{r 7}^,²⁰⁰¹^,^p^.^14.
²⁶^{For a}^re^p^o^rt^on^the^dif^fⁱ^c^u^ltie^{s in}^c^r^a^c^k^ing^dow^{n on sm}^ug^g^ling^,^se^e^“^N^e^w^Aⁿ^ti-Sm^ug^g^ling^P^o^lic^y^to^be^Form^ula^t^e^d^,”
^Bu^sin^e^{ss Reco}^rd^er^{, N}^o^v^e^m^b^e^r¹⁶^{, 20}⁰⁵^.
²⁷^Se^e^,^a^m^ong^hun^dr^e^d^s^of^r^e^por^ts^s^p^e^c^u^la^ting^t^h^a^t^bi^{n L}^a^de^{n is}^hidiⁿ^gⁱⁿ^P^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^{, H}^e^nr^y^Shus^te^r^,^“^Bⁱⁿ^L^a^de^{n: A}^liv^e
^or^D^e^a^d^—^A^{nd H}^o^w^W^{ould W}^e^K^now^?^”^CNN^,^Dece^m^b^{er 8}^,²⁰^05;^an^d^J^o^hn^L^aⁿ^cast^e^r,^“M^u^s^h^a^rraf^S^a^y^s^F^o^{rces Nearl}^y
^N^a^bbe^{d B}ⁱ^{n L}^a^de^n,”^W^a^s^hⁱⁿ^gt^{on Pos}^t^,^M^a^{rch 16}^,²⁰⁰⁵^.^F^o^r^{a h}^y^p^o^t^h^esi^zed^coⁿⁿ^ectⁱ^o^{n b}^e^t^w^een^t^h^{e sm}^u^g^g^l^e^rs’^market^s
^a^{nd b}ⁱ^{n L}^a^de^{n, s}^e^e^L^e^v^,^{op. c}ⁱ^t^.

closures occurring in Bajaur and Kurram agencies in autumn 2005. All told, close to 200,000
refugees were displaced in the closures, the majority of them electing to repatriate to ²⁸
Afghanistan. The GoP received some criticism during each closure operation for failing to
identify suitable relocation alternatives for Afghans unable to repatriate because they lacked
shelter or the means to earn a living in Afghanistan, or other reasons. According to some reports,
this resulted in many Afghans crossing the border into Afghanistan without the desire to do so and
without adequate preparation, support, or security on either side of the border. According to the
terms of the Tripartite Agreement between the GoP, the government of Afghanistan (GoA) and
UNHCR, which was signed in March 2002 (and extended several times since), all returns must be
voluntary. While there have been isolated reports of forced deportations, most observers believe ²⁹
that the GoP has largely abided by the agreement.
On January 17, 2007, Pakistan’s government announced the pending closure of four Afghan
refugee camps in the border areas, stating it was doing so in order to ensure security. Two camps
will reportedly be closed in March 2007 with another two to follow later in the year. The camps
are located in the provinces of Balochistan and North West Frontier. Some closures had been
announced several years ago, but were postponed until 2007. The move could affect as many as

250,000 Afghan refugees. The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations have ³⁰

expressed their concerns for the wellbeing of the refugees affected.
In order to gather more information on Afghans in Pakistan, and ultimately to sort out those who
have legitimate protection concerns from others, the GoP conducted a census in February and
March 2005 that has become the basis for the registration program developed with UNHCR and
the government of Afghanistan. Registration of Afghans began on October 15, 2006, and is being
conducted by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) with the
support of UNHCR and the government’s Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees. To encourage
Afghans to come forward for the registration, those who are registered are given a new identity
document entitling them to live and work in Pakistan for three years. The validity period of the
documentation is still being negotiated among UNHCR, the GoP, and the government of
Afghanistan. Initially, only those Afghans counted in the census (about 2.5 million) could register,
but in December 2006, the list was expanded to include all Afghans who could show documented ³¹
evidence as proof that they were living in Pakistan at the time the census was conducted. The
idea was to provide for a transition period during which Afghans may reconnect with Afghanistan ³²
and ultimately return home. As of January 17, 2007, 1.5 million had registered. The registration
was supposed to end on December 31 but has been extended twice—the first time until January

19, 2007, and then again to February 2, 2007.

²⁸^Despⁱ^t^e^t^h^{e cam}^p^cl^o^s^u^r^es,^t^h^{e re}^cen^t^cen^su^{s i}ⁿ^dⁱ^cat^{es t}^h^at^t^eⁿ^s^–^aⁿ^d^p^e^rh^ap^s^h^uⁿ^d^r^ed^s^–^o^f^t^h^ou^sand^{s o}^f^Af^gh^an^s
^c^onti^nue^t^o^liv^eⁱⁿⁿ^on-c^a^m^{p se}^ttle^m^e^{nts in the}^FA^TA^.
²⁹^T^h^e^T^r^ipa^r^tite^A^g^re^em^eⁿ^{t is}^a^v^aⁱ^l^a^ble^onl^ine^a^t^htt^p^://w^w^w^.unhc^r.c^h^/^c^gⁱ^-bin/te^xⁱ^s^/^v^t^x^/^rs^d/
^r^s^ddoc^vⁱ^e^~^.^pdf^?^t^bl=^R^SD^L^E^G^A^L^&ⁱ^d=^42f^b2^b7^be^.
³⁰^Un^ited^Nati^oⁿ^s^Of^fⁱ^ce^f^o^{r th}^{e Coo}^r^dⁱⁿ^a^tion^o^f^Hu^m^aⁿ^itarian^Aff^a^ir^{s (UNOCH}^A^),^“P^akistan^:^{UN Cau}^tion^s^on^A^f^gh^an
^R^e^f^uge^e^C^a^m^p^C^l^os^ur^e^s^,”^J^a^nua^r^y^{17, 20}^07.
³¹^Ibid^.
³²^UNOCH^A^,^Un^ited^Nation^s^Integrated^Re^gioⁿ^a^{l In}^f^o^rm^atioⁿ^Netwo^r^{ks (IRIN),}^“P^akistan^:^A^f^gh^an^Registratioⁿ
^De^a^d^line^Ex^te^nde^d^uⁿ^til^{19 Ja}^nua^ry^,^”^De^c^e^m^b^e^r^{29, 20}⁰⁶^.

With each passing year, however, it may become more difficult to encourage refugees to return
voluntarily to Afghanistan. According to UNHCR data, the refugees who have already returned to ³³
Afghanistan have spent, on average, less time in Pakistan than those who remain. This may
suggest that those who left in the early years did so because it was easier for them: they still had
connections with Afghanistan. Those who remain, by contrast, may find it especially difficult to
return to a country to which they have, relatively speaking, few ties. UNHCR, the U.N.
Development Program (UNDP) and the Pakistani authorities are developing a needs assessment ³⁴
to address these ongoing refugee issues.
In contrast to Pakistan, there are almost no refugee settlements in Iran. Instead, Afghans tend to
occupy urban areas, where, as long as they have official refugee status (see below) they are ³⁵
entitled to basic government-subsidized services such as health care and education. According
to recent government statistics, and based on a registration initiative undertaken by the
government in November 2005, there were approximately 920,000 registered Afghans in Iran as ³⁶
of May 2006. This figure includes only officially registered refugees, however. It is likely that
additional hundreds of thousands (the Government of Iran (GoI) estimates perhaps close to one ³⁷
million) Afghans are living in Iran as undocumented workers. It is estimated that 60% of the ³⁸
registered Afghan refugees have been living in Iran for at least 15 years.
As with Pakistan, the history of Afghan migration to Iran long predates the refugee crisis. ^th
Thousands of ethnic Turkmen, for instance, sought work in Iran in the 19 century, and received
official recognition from the Persian government. The flow continued a century later, when many

³³^{D. Krone}^nf^e^l^{d’s inte}^rv^ie^w^s^w^{ith UNHCR off}ⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^{s in Isla}^m^a^ba^d^,^Au^gu^st²⁰⁰⁵^.^P^r^o^fⁱ^l^e^{s o}^f^assi^st^ed^ret^u^rn^{ees are al}^so
^pub^lishe^d^oⁿ^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^ista^{n Inf}^o^rm^a^tion^Ma^na^g^e^m^e^{nt Se}^rv^ic^e^s^’^w^e^b^s^ite^{: htt}^p^://w^ww^.aⁱ^m^s.org^.^a^f^{, w}^hⁱ^c^{h is a}^pr^oje^c^tⁿ^o^w
^so^lely^ad^mⁱⁿⁱ^stered^b^y^th^{e Un}^{ited Natio}ⁿ^s^Develo^p^m^en^t^P^r^o^g^ram⁽^UNDP^{) t}^o^h^e^l^p^d^e^velo^pⁱⁿ^f^o^rmatioⁿ^m^aⁿ^a^ge^men^t
^c^a^p^a^b^ility^w^{ithin t}^h^e^g^o^v^e^rnm^e^{nt of}^Afg^h^aⁿ^ista^n.
³⁴^{UNHCR rep}^o^r^t,^Afg^h^aⁿ^istaⁿ^Situ^atio^{n: Ope}^r^a^tio^nal^Upd^a^te^{, Se}^pte^m^be^r^2006.
³⁵^A^lthoug^{h s}^o^m^e^eⁱ^g^h^ty^cam^ps^w^e^r^e^s^e^{t up,}^on^ly^2.5%^of^the^r^e^f^u^g^e^e^pop^ula^tⁱ^on^liv^e^dⁱⁿ^the^m^{; the}^pe^r^c^eⁿ^ta^g^e^ne^v^e^r
^ro^{se ab}^o^v^{e 5}^%^.^It^h^a^{s b}^een^estⁱ^m^at^ed^t^h^at^Iraⁿⁱ^an^exp^e^ndⁱ^t^u^{res o}ⁿ^ed^u^catⁱ^oⁿ^,^h^eal^t^h^care,^t^r^an^s^p^o^r^t^,^f^u^el^,^and^b^a^si^c
^g^oods^f^o^{r A}^f^g^h^aⁿ^s^pe^a^k^e^d^a^t^$10^m^{illion. pe}^r^da^y^.^Se^e^A^bba^sⁱ^-Sha^v^a^zⁱ^{, e}^t^a^l^.,^R^e^t^u^rn^t^o^A^f^gh^anⁱ^s^t^an?^A^S^t^ud^y^o^f
^Afgh^ans^Livⁱⁿ^gⁱⁿ^Te^hr^an^,^K^a^bul^:^A^R^EU^{, J}^une²⁰⁰⁵^{, p}^p^.^2,^9,¹⁶^.
³⁶^U^N^H^C^R^’^s^m^a^jor^r^o^le^is^t^o^a^s^sⁱ^s^t^{in r}^e^pa^tr^ia^ti^on.^B^e^y^{ond tha}^t^,^the^y^ha^v^e^a^pr^ote^c^tio^{n r}^o^le^a^s^I^r^aⁿ^ha^s^be^eⁿ^accu^sed^o^f
^f^o^r^c^e^d^de^por^ta^ti^ons^{. D}^u^rⁱ^ng^t^h^e¹^990s^{, w}^e^{ll be}^f^o^r^e^the^T^a^libaⁿ^w^a^{s ous}^te^d^,^I^r^a^{n a}^lle^g^e^dly^w^a^s^tr^yⁱ^ng^{to p}^u^s^h^ou^{t s}^o^m^e
^Af^gh^an^r^e^f^u^ge^es.
³⁷^T^h^e^r^e^is^{no r}^e^lia^b^l^e^e^s^tim^a^t^e^f^o^r^the^num^be^r^of^un^doc^um^eⁿ^te^{d A}^f^gha^nsⁱⁿ^I^r^a^{n. A}^bba^s^sⁱ^-^S^ha^v^a^zⁱ^et^a^l^{. (}^op.^cⁱ^t^{., p. 2)}
^e^s^ti^m^a^te^tha^t^a^s^m^aⁿ^y^a^s^500,0⁰⁰^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^s^m^ove^ba^c^k^a^{nd f}^o^r^t^{h be}^t^w^ee^{n A}^f^g^h^aⁿ^is^ta^{n a}ⁿ^d^I^r^a^{n i}ⁿ^s^e^a^r^c^h^of^la^bor^,^b^u^t
^the^f^a^c^t^tha^t^the^G^o^I^aⁿⁿ^u^a^lly^de^por^ts^th^ous^aⁿ^ds^of^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^s^pr^ov^id^e^s^s^o^m^e^indic^a^tio^{n of}^the^num^be^r^s^.
³⁸^“^A^fg^h^aⁿⁱ^staⁿ^-Iraⁿ^:^T^r^ip^a^r^tite^Re^f^u^g^e^e^A^g^re^e^m^eⁿ^{t Sig}ⁿ^e^d^,”^Ne^w^s^,^Juⁿ^e³⁰^,²⁰⁰⁵^,^h^t^tp^:/^/www^.irinⁿ^e^w^s^.o^rg^/
^r^e^por^t.a^s^p?^R^e^p^o^r^t^I^D⁼⁴⁷⁸⁹⁷^&^S^e^l^e^c^t^R^e^gⁱ^on=A^s^ia^&^S^e^l^ec^tC^ountr^y^=A^F^G^HA^N^I^STA^N^-^I^R^A^N^.^A^t^ti^m^e^s^,^the^G^o^I^ha^s^tr^ie^d
^{to f}^o^r^c^e^—^or^f^o^r^c^ibly^pe^r^s^ua^de^—^A^f^g^ha^ns^{to le}^a^v^e^a^{nd g}^o^ba^c^k^to^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^is^ta^n.

Afghans sought work in Iran during the oil crisis of the 1970s, and when, because of increasing ³⁹
international demand and high oil prices, Iran both needed and could afford foreign workers.
The cross-border flow picked up dramatically, however, after the Soviet invasion of 1979. By

1981, some 1.5 million Afghans were estimated to have fled to Iran. The number would expand to ⁴⁰

over 3 million by 1990.
The status of Afghans in Iran went through several changes over the course of the refugee crisis.
Although Iran is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Afghans fleeing the Soviet invasion
were initially greeted not as refugees (panahandegan) but as “involuntary religious migrants”
(mohajerin). While this category, based on Islamic principles, was technically not an international
legal designation, it was considered a higher-status term than “refugee” in post-revolutionary ⁴¹
Iran. Mohajerin were given indefinite permission to reside in Iran and had access to free ⁴²
education and subsidized health care and food.
After the Soviet withdrawal, however, the status of Afghans began to change. Although 1.4
million Afghans are estimated to have repatriated in 1992, well over a million remained in Iran.
Beginning in 1993, new migrants were no longer deemed to be fleeing religious persecution and
were categorized as refugees (panahandegan); instead of being granted indefinite residency
status, they were issued with temporary registration cards. After the fall of the Taliban, Afghans
once again began to return in large numbers to Afghanistan (see Table 1).
As in Pakistan, there is ample evidence that Afghan labor migration now plays in important role
in both the Afghan and Iranian economies. Remittances from Afghans working in Iran bring a
good deal of revenue to their families in Afghanistan, and Afghans continue to be an important ⁴³
source of labor in Iran, where they are particularly prevalent in construction and agriculture.
One measure of the continuing importance of Afghan labor in Iran is the fact that the GoI has ⁴⁴
recently offered to permit some 200,000 Afghans to work in Iran as guest workers. A key aspect
of this offer is that the Afghan workers will be required to leave their families in Afghanistan,
presumably to ensure that they will not attempt to emigrate. In fact, however, a number of recent
research papers commissioned and published by the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit
(AREU) show that this migration pattern has already been a model for some time. Many young
Afghan men travel to Iran for a period of months or even years to supplement their family ⁴⁵
income, while the women and other men remain in Afghanistan. This contrasts with many of the

³⁹^Stig^te^r^,^Elc^a^,^aⁿ^{d A}^l^e^s^s^a^ndr^{o M}^o^ns^utti^{, T}^r^ansⁿ^a^tio^na^{l N}^e^tw^or^k^s^:^Re^c^ognizⁱ^ng^{a Re}^gio^nal^Re^ali^t^y^{, K}^a^bul:^A^R^EU^,
^A^p^r^{il 200}^5,^p.^{3; a}^{nd A}^bba^s^sⁱ^-^S^ha^v^a^zⁱ^e^t^a^l^{., op.}^c^it.,^p.¹⁶^.
⁴⁰^T^u^r^t^{on a}^nd^Ma^r^s^de^n,^op^{. c}^it.,^p^p^.^9-¹¹^.
⁴¹^It^h^a^{s b}^{een su}^ggest^ed^t^h^atⁿ^a^scent^Isl^a^mⁱ^{c re}^gi^m^eⁱⁿ^T^e^h^r^an^e^m^ploy^e^d^{this te}^rm^{to inc}^r^e^a^s^e^{its pre}^s^ti^g^e^{in the}^Isla^mⁱ^c
^w^o^rld^.^T^h^{e term}^f^o^{r re}^f^u^g^{ees (}^panaha^nde^gaⁿ⁾ⁱ^s^,^by^c^ontr^a^s^t^{, r}^e^la^tiv^e^l^y^low^-^s^t^a^t^us^{, im}^pl^yⁱ^ngⁱ^m^pov^e^rⁱ^s^hm^eⁿ^{t. Se}^e
^A^bba^s^sⁱ^-Sha^v^a^zⁱ^e^t^a^l^{., op. c}ⁱ^t^.,^p^p^{. 1}²^-^18.
⁴²^Ibid^.
⁴³^“Iranⁱ^an^eco^no^mⁱ^st^s^w^a^rn^ed^t^h^at^t^h^{e rep}^a^t^rⁱ^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^Afgh^an^{s co}^u^l^d^co^st^t^h^{e cou}ⁿ^t^ry^{a vi}^t^a^l^p^a^rt^o^fⁱ^t^s^w^o^rk^f^o^rce,^”
^Wo^rl^d^R^e^f^u^g^{ee S}^u^r^{vey 20}⁰⁵^{, U.S}^.^Com^m^itte^e^f^o^{r Re}^f^uge^e^s^a^{nd Im}^mⁱ^g^r^aⁿ^{ts, a}^v^a^ila^ble^a^t^http://w^ww^.^r^e^f^uge^e^s^.org^.
⁴⁴^Sta^t^e^m^eⁿ^{t by}^G^.^A^{li K}^hos^hr^o^o^,^D^e^puty^For^e^ig^{n Minis}^t^e^r^f^o^{r I}ⁿ^te^rⁿ^a^tio^na^{l a}ⁿ^d^L^e^g^a^l^Aff^a^{irs o}^f^the^Isla^mⁱ^c^Re^public
^of^I^r^a^{n, de}^liv^e^r^e^d^a^t^t^h^e^Str^a^te^gⁱ^c^C^ons^ul^ta^tio^ns^oⁿ^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^R^e^f^u^g^ees^a^nd^Pop^u^la^tioⁿ^Mov^e^m^e^nts^{to a}^{nd f}^r^om
^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^is^ta^{n in}^G^e^ne^v^a^{, O}^c^tobe^r^{7, 2}⁰⁰⁵^.
⁴⁵^Iⁿ^a^d^diti^on^{to T}^u^r^t^{on a}^nd^Ma^r^s^de^n,^op^.^cit^.^A^b^b^a^ssi^-S^h^a^vazi^et^al^.^,^Te^hr^an^{, o}^p^{. c}ⁱ^t^{., a}ⁿ^{d St}^ig^te^{r a}^nd^Mons^utti,^op^.^ci^t^.,
^{see S}^tⁱ^g^t^e^r,^E^l^ca,^Tr^ans^nati^oⁿ^a^{l N}^e^tw^or^k^s^and^Mⁱ^gr^ati^oⁿ^fr^om^F^a^r^y^{ab t}^o^I^r^aⁿ^{, K}^a^bul:^A^R^EU^{, Fe}^br^ua^r^y^{2005; a}ⁿ^d
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

Afghans in Pakistan, who emigrated with their entire extended families or even whole tribal
groups. Indeed, there may be something of a reverse migration of single Afghan men in Pakistan,
who, leaving their families in Pakistan, return to Afghanistan in search of higher-paying seasonal ⁴⁶
work and to look after family assets.
Although there has not yet been a systematic study of population movement across the Afghan-
Iranian border similar to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) study of the Afghan-
Pakistani border, it is clear that since 1979 the volume and frequency of Afghan migration to Iran
is much less than it is into Pakistan. To begin with, traffic across the Iranian border is more tightly
regulated than it is across the Pakistani border; it is not possible to simply walk from Afghanistan
into Iran. Furthermore, Afghans crossing into Iran must pay for a passport and a visa. Obtaining
these legally is expensive and time-consuming; obtaining them illegally is even more expensive.
In addition, there is much less settlement along Afghanistan’s rather arid border with Iran than
there is along the border with Pakistan. Afghans wishing to work in Iran must travel fairly deeply
into the country before reaching the major population centers of Tehran and Isfahan; even Iran’s
eastern city of Mashad is over 200 miles from Herat in Afghanistan. The cost of transportation
can be prohibitive for many Afghans. For these reasons, Afghan migration to and from Iran does ⁴⁷
not happen as frequently or as casually as it does along Afghanistan’s eastern border.
While Afghan refugees in Pakistan have, for at least a decade, gone relatively undocumented, the
GoI through the Ministry of Interior’s Bureau of Aliens and Foreign Immigrant Affairs (BAFIA) ⁴⁸
has maintained a fairly detailed list of Afghans whom it has accepted as refugees. Afghans on ⁴⁹
this “Amayesh” list have been entitled to basic health and education services provided by the
Iranian government. The list is updated periodically, at which time Afghans must re-register with
Iranian authorities in order to remain in the country legally.
Afghans who are not on the list are subject to deportation; since the beginning of the assisted
repatriation program in Spring of 2002, the GoI has deported some Afghans often to protests by ⁵⁰
UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies. It has been reported that some of the deported
Afghans do, in fact, have prima facie refugee status. Hundreds of deported Afghans allegedly

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^Tr^ansⁿ^a^ti^on^{al N}^e^tw^or^k^s^and^Mⁱ^g^r^atio^{n fr}^om^H^e^r^a^t^to^I^r^an^{, K}^a^bu^l:^A^R^EU^{, J}^a^nua^r^y²⁰⁰⁵^{. Se}^e^a^l^s^o^A^bba^s^sⁱ^-^S^ha^v^a^zⁱ^e^t
^a^l^.,^{A Re}^t^u^rⁿ^t^o^Af^gh^an^is^ta^{n? A}^St^udy^o^f^Af^gh^ans^Livⁱⁿ^gⁱⁿ^Za^he^d^aⁿ^{, K}^a^bul:^A^R^EU^{, O}^c^tobe^r²⁰⁰⁵^aⁿ^d^C^o^nti^nue^d
^Por^t^e^c^tion^,^S^u^s^t^aⁱⁿ^able^Reⁱⁿ^te^gr^a^tion:^Afg^h^aⁿ^Re^f^uge^e^s^a^{nd M}ⁱ^gr^aⁿ^tsⁱⁿ^I^r^an^{, K}^a^bu^{l: A}^R^EU^{, Ma}^y²⁰⁰⁶^{. A}^{ll title}^s^a^r^e
^a^v^a^ila^ble^f^o^r^dow^nloa^{d a}^t^h^ttp:^//w^w^w^.a^r^e^u.or^g^.^a^f^.
⁴⁶^D^.^K^r^one^nf^e^l^d’^s^inte^r^v^ie^w^s^w^{ith U}^N^H^C^R^of^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^s^{in I}^s^lam^a^ba^{d a}^nd^P^e^s^h^a^w^a^r^{, P}^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^{, Fe}^br^ua^r^y²⁰⁰⁴^aⁿ^d
^Fe^br^ua^r^y²⁰⁰⁵^.
⁴⁷^Stitg^e^r^a^{nd Mo}^nsuttⁱ^{, op.c}ⁱ^t^{., pp.}^6-^{7; se}^e^a^l^{so A}^bba^ssi-Sha^v^a^zⁱ^e^t^a^l^.,^Te^hr^an^,^o^p^{. c}^it.^{It sh}^ou^ld^beⁿ^o^t^e^d^tha^t^r^u^ra^{l t}^o
^ur^baⁿ^la^bor^mⁱ^g^r^a^{tion is}^no^{t s}ⁱ^m^p^ly^aⁿ^inte^rⁿ^a^tⁱ^ona^l^phe^nom^e^{non. R}^ecen^t^research^h^a^{s sh}^o^wⁿ^t^h^at^m^aⁿ^y^Af^gh^an^{s al}^so
^m^o^v^e^wⁱ^t^hⁱⁿ^t^h^{e co}^un^t^r^y^t^o^u^r^b^aⁿ^{areas i}ⁿ^search^o^f^w^o^rk.^S^{ee Op}^el^,^Af^t^a^b^,^Bouⁿ^d^for^the^City^{: A}^St^u^d^y^of^Rura^{l to}
^U^r^ban^La^bo^ur^Mⁱ^gr^at^io^{n in}^Af^gh^anis^t^an^,^K^a^bul:^A^R^EU^{, A}^p^r^{il 200}^5.
⁴⁸^“^R^e^t^ur^{n: I}ⁿ^f^o^r^m^a^{tion U}^pda^te^,”^I^s^s^u^e⁴³^{, U}^N^H^C^R^K^a^bul,^O^c^tobe^r^15,²⁰^03.
⁴⁹^“^A^m^a^yesh^”^lite^ra^lly^m^e^aⁿ^{s log}ⁱ^stic^{s; the}^am^ay^e^s^h^pr^oje^c^t^w^a^sⁱ^m^plem^eⁿ^te^{d by}^the^I^r^a^niaⁿ^a^u^t^horⁱ^tie^s^{to i}^d^eⁿ^tif^y
^regi^oⁿ^a^l^an^dⁱⁿ^f^r^ast^r^u^c^t^u^{re po}^t^eⁿ^tⁱ^a^l^s^t^o^acco^mm^o^d^a^t^e^re^f^u^{gees i}ⁿ^Iran^;^t^h^{e am}^a^y^e^s^h^p^r^o^j^ect^f^o^{r A}^f^gh^aⁿ^ref^u^gees^w^a^s
^c^ond^uc^te^d^durⁱⁿ^g^J^u^ly²⁰⁰^{3 a}ⁿ^{d F}^e^br^ua^r^y^2004.^A^bba^s^sⁱ^-^S^ha^v^a^zⁱ^et^a^l^.,^Za^he^d^aⁿ^,^op^.^ci^t^.,^p.^viⁱ^.
⁵⁰^Iⁿ^f^o^r^m^a^{tion f}^r^o^m^U^N^H^C^R⁽^K^a^b^ul)^,^D^a^ta^Uⁿ^it^{, i}ⁿ^r^e^s^p^oⁿ^s^e^to^a^u^th^or^’^s^e^-^m^a^ile^{d r}^e^que^s^t^{. Spe}^cⁱ^fⁱ^c^nu^m^b^e^r^s^not
^avai^l^a^b^l^e.

were held in detention facilities for days where they were beaten before being sent back to ⁵¹
Afghanistan. Although deporting Afghan refugees is contrary to the terms of the Tripartite
Agreement signed with UNHCR and Afghanistan, Iran holds that the deportees are illegal
immigrants, and not refugees, and that Tehran is thus legally permitted to send them back to ⁵²
Afghanistan.
Afghans who are clearly on the Amayesh list have encountered increasing difficulties in recent
years. Whereas Afghan refugees in the past have received subsidized—or even free—education,
health care, and food rations, the GoI has begun implementing measures to force Afghans to pay
for these resources. These efforts reached a peak in February 2004, when the GoI announced
Afghans would lose their exemption to paying school fees and have to pay increased health care
premiums. Additionally, the GoI announced in early 2005 that Afghans would be subject to a
nominal tax. Previously, Afghans had received free education and paid the same amounts as ⁵³
Iranians for health care. UNHCR, which felt that the service reductions were particularly
draconian considering its own budget cuts in Iran, has reported that the GoI has not been overly ⁵⁴
fastidious in enforcing the new rules.
Nevertheless, Iran’s position, like that of Pakistan, has generally been that it is time for Afghans
to return home, and these efforts are part of an explicit effort to encourage Afghans to return to ⁵⁵
Afghanistan. In both cases, GoI and GoP argue that relative stability has returned to
Afghanistan, and there are no further reasons that Afghans require protection abroad. Indeed, the
GoI’s Director-General of the Interior Ministry’s Department for Immigrants and Foreign
Nationals Amad Hoseyni recently announced in early 2006 that Iran plans to “voluntarily ⁵⁶
repatriate” all Afghans—no matter what their status is—by March 2007. There is a certain
implicit contradiction in this and other such statements by both Tehran and Islamabad: if
repatriation is indeed to be voluntary, many Afghans may choose to remain in countries of
asylum, thus rendering somewhat questionable the government’s assertion that all Afghans will ⁵⁷
leave. The GoI’s announcement that it is considering extending a limited number of work visas
to Afghans suggests that the GoI is remaining flexible in its planning—or that there may be some
disagreement among leaders.

The United States government (USG) has provided humanitarian assistance to Afghan refugees
since the early 1980s. Funding for Afghan refugees declined rapidly since it peaked after the
U.S.-led invasion in October 2001. Almost all assistance has been provided through the Migration

⁵¹^Wo^rl^d^R^e^f^u^g^{ee Su}^rvey²⁰⁰⁵^{, op}^{. c}^it.
⁵²^T^h^e^te^x^t^of^the^T^r^ipa^r^tite^Ag^re^e^m^eⁿ^{t is a}^v^a^ila^ble^a^t^htt^p^://w^ww^.unh^c^r^.c^h/c^g^i-bin/^te^xⁱ^s/v^t^x^/^rsd/
^r^s^ddoc^vⁱ^e^w^.pdf^?^t^bl=^R^SD^L^E^G^A^L^&ⁱ^d=^42f^b4^7e^54.
⁵³^Wo^rl^d^R^e^f^u^g^{ee Su}^{rvey 2}⁰⁰⁵^{, op}^{. c}^it.
⁵⁴^A^u^thor^’^s^dis^c^us^sⁱ^ons^w^{ith U}^N^H^C^R^of^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^s^{in K}^a^bul^{, Fe}^br^ua^r^y²⁰⁰⁵^.
⁵⁵^Wo^rl^d^R^e^f^u^g^{ee Su}^rvey²⁰⁰⁵^{, op}^{. c}^it.
⁵⁶^“^Iraⁿ^P^l^aⁿ^{s t}^o^Re^pa^tria^te^A^{ll Re}^m^a^ining^Af^g^h^aⁿ^Re^f^u^g^e^e^s^—^O^ffⁱ^c^ia^l,”^IRNA^(Isl^a^mⁱ^{c Rep}^u^b^lⁱ^c^New^s^Agen^c^y^),^as
^r^e^por^te^{d by}^BBC^M^onit^o^rⁱ^ng^Mⁱ^d^d^le^Eas^t^{, J}^a^nua^r^y^1,20⁰⁶^{. Se}^e^a^l^s^o^{, “}^I^r^a^{n Se}^e^k^s^Fu^nds^t^o^R^e^t^u^rⁿ^A^f^g^h^aⁿ^R^e^f^u^g^e^es^,”
^RFE/RL^,^O^c^tobe^r¹⁰^{, 2}⁰⁰⁶^.
⁵⁷^Offⁱ^ci^al^{s at}^{UNHCR h}^a^v^eⁱⁿ^f^o^r^m^ed^t^h^{e au}^t^h^o^r^t^h^at^s^u^ch^p^r^on^ouⁿ^c^e^m^en^t^s^f^r^o^m^b^o^t^h^Iraⁿ^and^P^a^ki^st^an^{are n}^o^t
^unc^om^m^on.

and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account, and has been programmed by the Department of State’s ⁵⁸
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). This funding is used not only for the
protection and care of refugees in countries of asylum, but also for the reintegration of Afghan
returnees in Afghanistan. Table 2 presents USG assistance to Afghan refugees and returnees since
the U.S.-led invasion in October 2001. Since the majority of PRM funding is provided to regional
projects, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of assistance by country.
Table 2. USG Assistance to Afghan Refugees and Returnees
^{(in millions of}^doll^ars)
^Year^{Total MRA}^Amou^{nt for}^Af^ghans
^{FY2002 $70}^2.0^$16^0.47^a
^{FY2003 $78}^1.9^$61.5
^{FY2004 $78}^0.7^$63.3
^{FY2005 $76}^3.8^$47.1
^FY2006^$89^2.7^{Figure not yet available}
^Sources:^In^{formation provided}^{by PRM’s Office of As}^{sistance to}^{Asia and the Nea}^{r Ea}^{st (PRM/AN}^E).
^a.^{Includes $}²⁵^{million from ERMA}^{and $1}⁰⁰^milli^{on from the}^Emerg^{ency Respo}^{nse Fu}^{nd (ERF).}
The majority of PRM’s assistance for Afghans is provided to international organizations (IOs),
principally UNHCR and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), both of which
have been active in Afghanistan since the 1980s. In past years, some funding has also been
provided to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), IOM,
the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA). PRM also provides funding directly to non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
for targeted projects. Proposals are selected by a panel of PRM experts based on the NGO’s track
record, the cost-effectiveness of the proposal, and the extent to which the work meets PRM’s ⁵⁹
stated guidelines.
USG assistance to Afghan refugees and returnees through PRM is generally intended to meet the
most basic humanitarian needs, including food, shelter, protection, water and sanitation, health
care, and primary education. In addition, PRM helps support the assisted repatriation of refugees
back to Afghanistan. Much of this activity is carried out by PRM’s principal IO partners.
UNHCR, in addition to managing the massive repatriation operation, also oversees shelter
construction and water and sanitation activities in Afghanistan. In Pakistan and Iran, UNHCR is
responsible for refugee protection and camp management, including provision of health care,

⁵⁸^Iⁿ^a^d^diti^on^to^the^MR^A^a^c^c^ount^t^h^e^r^e^is^a^l^s^o^aⁿ^Em^e^r^g^e^ncy^Mig^r^a^t^{ion a}^{nd R}^e^f^u^g^e^e^A^s^sⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^c^e⁽^E^R^M^A⁾^a^c^c^ount,
^w^h^ic^{h c}^a^r^rⁱ^e^s^ov^e^r^f^r^om^y^e^a^r^to^y^e^a^r^{. For}^m^o^r^e^on^PR^{M a}ⁿ^{d t}^h^e^M^R^A^a^{nd ER}^MA^a^c^c^ounts^,^s^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³³⁷⁶⁹^,
^Iⁿ^te^r^nat^io^{nal C}^r^is^e^s^aⁿ^d^Dⁱ^s^a^s^t^e^r^s^:^U^.^{S. H}^u^m^ani^tarⁱ^an^As^sⁱ^s^t^anc^e^,^Bud^g^e^t^Tr^eⁿ^ds^{, a}ⁿ^d^I^s^s^u^e^s^for^C^o^ngr^e^s^s^{, by}^R^hoda
^Ma^r^g^e^s^s^on.
⁵⁹^Ex^am^ple^s^of^P^R^M’^s^c^u^r^r^e^{nt N}^G^O^g^u^ide^line^s^m^a^y^be^s^e^eⁿ^a^t^http:/^/w^w^w^.s^ta^t^e^.g^ov^/^g^/pr^m^/^f^und/^c¹⁴²^84.^htm^.

primary education, and adequate water and sanitation to refugees. Many of these activities are ⁶⁰
actually conducted by international and local NGOs with oversight and funding from UNHCR.
UNHCR has also taken on a leading role in the humanitarian response to the South Asia
earthquake of October 2005. Although most of the earthquake’s victims were not refugees,
because of its experience and assets in Pakistan, UNHCR was designated the lead agency for the ⁶¹
camp management cluster, which officially ended on August 31, 2006.
Although it has offices in Iran and Pakistan, the ICRC is more active in Afghanistan, where it
supports health care, demining, water and sanitation, family reunification, promotion of ⁶²
international humanitarian law, and detention visits. In addition to supporting the activities of
IOs, PRM directly funds NGOs to carry out humanitarian projects, such as shelter construction
for returnees, refugee education, skills training for women, and refugee and returnee health care.
These projects are designed to complement the activity of the IOs. In keeping with humanitarian
practice, PRM does not single out refugees and returnees alone for assistance. Most PRM-funded
projects also benefit host communities as well as the target population.

Even after four years of exceptionally high refugee return numbers, the population of Afghan ⁶³
refugees in Pakistan and Iran remains the second-highest in the world. If recent returnees—also
central to PRM’s mandate—are added to this number, Afghans represent by far the largest
population of refugees and returnees in the world. Funding for Afghan refugees has, however,
diminished both overall and as a percentage of PRM’s total annual budget since FY2002. The
United States thus faces the challenge of maintaining its crucial assistance in this area of the
world despite competing priorities.
This challenge may become even more difficult in the near future, because maintaining the
successful repatriation program is likely to become more, not less, expensive as time goes on.
This is because the refugees remaining in Pakistan and Iran have fewer resources in and ties to
Afghanistan than those who returned earlier. They have also, on average, spent far more time ⁶⁴
outside of Afghanistan than earlier returnees (see Figure 2). As time goes on, it becomes
increasingly more difficult—and expensive—to encourage remaining refugees to voluntarily
return to Afghanistan. Thus, as funding is declining, its importance may be increasing. A related
issue may be whether Pakistan and Iran would be receptive to encouragement to grant citizenship
to Afghans who do not want to return to Afghanistan.

⁶⁰^Se^e^U^N^H^C^R^,^“^C^ountr^y^O^p^e^r^a^tio^ns^P^l^aⁿ²⁰⁰⁷^{, A}^f^g^h^aⁿ^is^ta^n,”^htt^p^:/^/w^w^w^.unhc^r^.^or^g^/^hom^e^/^R^S^D^C^O^I^/450⁵³^23f^2.^pdf^.
⁶¹^For^de^ta^ils^oⁿ^U^N^H^{CR a}^c^tiv^itie^s^{in A}^f^g^h^aⁿ^is^ta^{n, Ira}^n,^a^nd^P^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^{, s}^e^e^http:^//w^w^w^.unhc^r.c^h^/^c^gⁱ^-bin^/te^xⁱ^s^/^v^t^x^/
^c^ountry^?ⁱ^s^o⁼^a^f^g^{, http://w}^w^w^.unh^c^r^.c^h/c^g^i-bin/^te^xⁱ^s^/^v^t^x^/^c^ountry^?ⁱ^s^o⁼ⁱ^{rn, a}^nd^htt^p^://w^w^w^.unhc^r.c^h^/^c^gⁱ^-bin/^t^e^x^is^/^v^tx^/
^c^ountr^y^?ⁱ^s^o⁼^p^a^k^{. Se}^e^a^l^s^o^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³³¹⁹^6,^The^E^a^r^t^h^q^u^a^k^e^{in S}^out^{h As}ⁱ^a^:^H^u^m^ani^tarⁱ^{an As}^sⁱ^s^t^anc^e^aⁿ^d^Re^lie^f
^Ope^r^atio^ns^{, by}^D^a^nie^l^K^r^one^nf^e^l^{d a}ⁿ^d^R^h^oda^Ma^r^g^e^s^s^on.
⁶²^{ICRC’s activ}^{ities in}^A^f^g^h^an^istan^ar^{e d}^e^tailed^{at h}^t^t^p^://w^ww^.icrc.o^r^g^.
⁶³^Af^gh^an^re^f^u^gees^{are o}^u^t^nu^m^b^ere^d^on^l^y^b^y^P^a^l^e^stⁱⁿⁱ^aⁿ^s⁽^Wo^rl^{d R}^e^f^u^g^{ee Su}^{rvey 2}⁰⁰⁵^,^op^{. c}^it.^,^T^a^b^l^{e 8}⁾^.^S^{ee al}^so
^U^N^H^C^R^w^e^bs^ite^{: http:}^//w^w^w^.unh^c^r^.c^h/c^g^i-^bin/^te^xⁱ^s^/^v^t^x^/^c^ountr^y^?ⁱ^so=^a^f^g^.
⁶⁴^D^.^K^r^one^nf^e^l^d’^s^inte^r^v^ie^w^s^w^{ith P}^R^{M s}^t^a^f^f^a^nd^C^e^ns^us^,^o^p^{. c}^it.

Another factor influencing the success of the repatriation program is the sustainability of previous
returns to Afghanistan—that is, the degree to which returnees are being adequately anchored in
their communities, whether they are receiving health care, education, and opportunities to make a
living. Integration of returnees increasingly is examined in both studies and reports and getting ⁶⁵
the attention of policymakers. The success of the repatriation program thus depends on the
success of the overall reconstruction effort in Afghanistan, including the extent to which returned
refugees (and IDPs) are integrated into reconstruction efforts.
There is already evidence that many Afghan returnees do not remain in Afghanistan; traffic across ⁶⁶
the Pakistani border in particular—in both directions—is heavy. To a certain extent, and as
noted above, this is a historical pattern that pre-dates not only the repatriation program but the
refugee crisis as well. A cause for concern may emerge, however, if it is concluded that many of
the Afghans crossing back into Pakistan and Iran are doing so because they could not sustain
themselves in Afghanistan. A renewed outward flow of Afghans, in addition to signaling the
possible inadequacies of the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan, could increase tensions with
host countries. Both the GoI and the GoP, indicate some possible flexibility on the future of
Afghan migration, but have nevertheless made clear that they believe the refugee crisis in
Afghanistan is over, and that there is no excuse for Afghans to remain in their countries on
humanitarian grounds. Future study of the reasons for Afghan population movements is required ⁶⁷
in order to determine their reasons for migration.
It remains to be seen what effect the Pakistani government’s recently announced plans for
controlling and securing the Afghan border, through the construction of fences and planting of ⁶⁸
landmines, will have on refugee movements. Humanitarian groups have voiced their concerns
and condemned the plan. Pakistan is not a signatory to international conventions banning the use ⁶⁹
of landmines and the government says the plan is a necessary step to increase border security.
President Hamid Karzai apparently also objected strongly to the announcement not only for
political and humanitarian reasons, but because he does not believe the plan will be effective in ⁷⁰
preventing terrorists from crossing the border into Afghanistan.
In the longer term, the governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran may need to come to new ⁷¹
political arrangements concerning the migration of Afghans in South Asia. New research
indicates that Afghan labor migration may prove beneficial to both Afghanistan—in the form of

⁶⁵^{UNHCR, “}^N^e^w^Study^Hig^h^lig^{hts Ke}^y^Re^inte^g^r^a^{tion Cha}^lle^ng^e^sⁱⁿ^Afg^h^aⁿ^ista^n,”^De^c^e^m^b^e^r^{5, 2}⁰⁰⁶^.
⁶⁶^Se^e^dis^c^us^sⁱ^oⁿ^of^I^O^M^bor^de^r^-^c^r^o^s^sⁱ^ng^s^u^r^v^e^y^{, a}^bov^e^.
⁶⁷^Se^e^,^f^o^r^e^x^am^ple^,^A^l^e^s^s^a^ndr^{o Mo}^ns^utti^,^Af^gh^an^Tr^ans^nat^io^{nal N}^e^t^w^or^k^s^:^Lookⁱ^ng^Be^y^oⁿ^d^Re^p^a^tr^iatⁱ^on^,^K^a^bul^:
^A^R^EU^{, A}^u^g^u^s^t²⁰⁰^6.
⁶⁸^U^N^O^f^fⁱ^c^e^f^o^r^the^C^oor^dina^ti^on^of^H^u^m^a^nita^rⁱ^aⁿ^A^f^f^a^ir^s^,^“^P^a^k^is^ta^{n: H}^u^m^a^nita^rⁱ^aⁿ^G^r^oups^C^oⁿ^d^e^m^{n L}^a^ndm^ine
^Pl^aⁿ^,^”^{IRIN News}^,^Decem^b^e^{r 2}⁷^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁶⁹^UNOCH^A^{, “}^P^a^k^ista^{n: Hum}^a^nita^riaⁿ^G^r^{oups C}^oⁿ^d^e^m^{n L}^a^nd^mⁱ^ne^P^l^aⁿ^,”^De^c^e^m^b^e^r^27,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁷⁰^“^A^f^g^ha^{n A}ⁿ^g^r^y^a^t^P^a^kⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^’^s^P^l^aⁿ^f^o^r^Mi^ne^s^a^nd^Fe^nc^e^on^B^o^r^d^e^r^,^”^{New Yo}^{rk Times}^{, D}^e^c^e^m^b^e^r^29,²⁰⁰^6.
⁷¹^For^m^o^r^e^g^e^ne^r^a^{l inf}^o^r^m^a^{tion on}^r^e^gⁱ^ona^{l is}^s^u^e^s^{, s}^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³³⁴⁵^8,^Cen^t^r^a^l^A^sⁱ^a^{: R}^e^gⁱ^on^a^l^Devel^o^p^m^en^t^s
^and^Implic^atio^{ns f}^o^{r U.S}^.^Inte^re^st^s^{, by}^Jⁱ^m^Nⁱ^c^hol.

remittances—and to countries of asylum—in the form of labor. Indeed, experts have noted that
such migration is nothing new; many Afghans have for a long time migrated seasonally in search
of livelihood opportunities. It remains to be seen what role the United States might take on this
issue.
Despite its economic advantages, establishing such a “labor migration regime” in South Asia may
prove politically difficult on the Pakistani and Iranian domestic fronts. Segments of both the GoI
and GoP have indicated that they believe Afghans are a net drain on the economy. Maintaining
security along the border with Afghanistan is also a concern. Afghans in Pakistan are blamed for a
good deal of lawlessness in the country, and there are few down sides for authorities to engage in ⁷²
this kind of scapegoating. Ultimately, however, Afghans will likely continue to live and work
outside of Afghanistan, regardless of the legality of doing so; understanding and regulating as
much of this migration as possible may be one way to ensure that it is done so in a secure,
humane, and effective manner.
^R^h^{oda Marg}^ess^oⁿ
^Sp^{ecialist i}ⁿ^Iⁿ^terⁿ^atioⁿ^a^{l H}^u^m^aⁿ^itarⁱ^an^P^o^lic^y
^r^m^arg^e^ss^on@^crs^.^l^o^c.g^o^v^,^7-⁰⁴²⁵

⁷²^T^h^{e recen}^{t ev}^ictioⁿ^o^f^Af^g^h^an^s^f^r^o^mⁱⁿ^f^o^r^m^{al settle}^men^t^sⁱⁿ^Islamab^a^d^an^d^Raw^a^lpⁱⁿ^dⁱ^{, f}^o^{r ex}^am^p^l^{e, w}^a^{s o}^r^d^e^red
^b^ecau^{se Afgh}^an^{s are an}^al^l^e^ged^secu^ri^t^y^ri^s^k^.^“P^aki^s^t^aⁿ^w^aⁿ^t^{s t}^h^e^Afgh^an^{s t}^o^ret^u^rⁿ^h^o^m^{e o}^r^m^o^{ve t}^o^an^ot^h^e^{r cam}^pⁱⁿ
^the^c^o^uⁿ^tr^y^by^Se^{pt. 15 f}^o^r^‘^s^e^c^u^r^ity^r^e^as^ons^,’^th^oug^h^m^aⁿ^y^o^f^t^h^{e ref}^u^g^{ees h}^a^{ve b}^een^liv^ing^{in this}^spra^w^ling
^ne^ig^hbor^ho^od^of^m^ud-^buil^t^h^o^m^e^s^{on t}^h^e^o^u^ts^kⁱ^r^t^s^of^I^s^la^m^a^ba^{d f}^o^r²⁰^y^e^a^r^s^.^”^Se^e^J^a^{n, Sa}^da^qa^{t, “}^A^f^g^ha^{n R}^e^f^u^g^e^es
^ne^a^r^P^a^kⁱ^staⁿ^{i Ca}^pita^{l A}^s^k^{to Sta}^y^P^u^{t a}^L^ittle^L^ong^e^r^,”^AP^{, Se}^pte^m^be^{r 2, 20}^05.^Se^e^a^l^{so “}^P^a^k^istaⁿ^A^u^thoritie^s
^De^m^o^lish^Illeg^a^{l Af}^g^h^an^Settle^m^eⁿ^t^{s,” A}^sso^ciated^P^r^{ess o}^f^P^a^kⁱ^staⁿ^(rep^o^rted^t^h^ro^u^g^h^BBC^Moⁿ^ito^rⁱⁿ^g^In^tern^ati^oⁿ^a^l),
^A^u^g^u^s^t^29,²⁰^05.