- Indications emerging from war-torn Afghanistan are anything but encouraging as the country of tribal warlords descends into utter chaos. The dreaded Taliban is advancing with such ferocity without facing any resistance whatsoever from the Afghan military and security paraphernalia is an ominous sign for the impoverished citizens reeling from one disaster after another. It is amazing how much ground the rampaging Taliban has covered soon after the United States of America decided to withdraw its positioned troops for over two decades. Quite disturbing to note how erstwhile secure territories are falling into the hands of the Taliban leading to scores of citizens fleeing. Ostensibly to neutral regions with the hope of leading a dignified life without stifling restrictions by the hardcore fundamentalists. Reports say Afghanistan has fallen aside.
PC: NILOVA ROY CHAUDHURY
- Of course, the Indian Government has heavily invested in the country diplomatically, financially, as well as infrastructurally worth billions of dollars. However, the unraveling of the Taliban advance is bound to be watched with alacrity and concerns in New Delhi which might undo all the good works undertaken yet far. In a worrying sign, major countries are advising citizens to leave the country. The Union Government has asked all Indian firms operating in Afghanistan to immediately withdraw their Indian employees. Apart from the security concerns arising out of the Taliban-Pakistan’s ISI nexus fomenting trouble, the Indian government also has to contend with the anticipated refugee influx in the coming days.
- The moot point to ponder over here is whether we have a refugee policy at all should Afghanistan descent into civil war as New Delhi won’t be able to shy away from taking a call on accepting Afghan refugees including minorities like Sikhs and Hindus. The answer is we do not have a refugee policy. We are neither party to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, nor do we have a domestic refugee law. Of course, India has hosted lakhs of refugees right from Tibetans fleeing persecution in communist China said to number 73,404 in 2019 to 59, 506 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees staying in 108 camps in Tamil Nadu to Odisha hosting an estimated 10 million East Pakistani refugees during Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war. We have been responsible for sure.
PC: Shashank Bharadwaj
- Notably, the lack of concrete guidelines means accepting or rejecting refugees is left to the political party in government. As is known, New Delhi of late has been particularly stern towards Rohingya refugees despite efforts at introducing the Citizenship Amendment Act seeking to create a pathway to citizenship for non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. This is no answer to an inevitable humanitarian crisis unfolding nearer home. As India sees itself as a middle power with deep interests in the South Asian region, it is expected to squarely deal with the refugee issue befitting a responsible nation. Thus, having in place a domestic refugee law will be par for the course move. The Union Government should initiate the law in right earnest now in anticipation of the influx.
