The silence of those who once marched with megaphones during the NRC/CAA events, exposes their false narrative about caring for the Muslim populace.
In October, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry delivered a severe ultimatum to around 1.7 million Afghan refugees, setting a 28-day deadline for voluntary departure or deportation. The deadline of 1 November has now elapsed, marking the commencement of mass deportations. This has accompanied a distressing escalation in police misconduct and brutality against Afghan migrants, exacerbating an already worsening humanitarian crisis. Shockingly, reports emerged that in numerous cases, Afghan refugees find themselves compelled to pay hefty bribes ranging from 10,000-40,000 Pakistani rupees (US$36-$144) to escape unwarranted incarceration by Pakistani authorities.
Earlier, the aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover saw an influx of Afghans into neighbouring Pakistan in 2021, spurred by government encouragement to apply for resettlement programs in countries such as the US, UK, Canada, and Germany. However, the majority of Afghans find themselves stranded with expired Pakistani visas, entangled in prolonged resettlement processes, rendering them susceptible to detention and deportation. The Taliban, on the other hand, is unlikely to take kindly to those who left the country and many returnees would face persecution. The unfolding situation demands urgent attention to safeguard the rights and well-being of vulnerable Afghan migrants caught in the crosscurrents of geopolitical transitions.
Most striking about this humanitarian crisis is the resounding silence of the liberal community in India and abroad. Notably absent are those opportunists who previously employed liberal and moral arguments to criticise and vilify India when it enacted the CAA/NRC legislation through legal parliamentary means. The legislation was grounded in humanitarian concerns for persecuted religious minorities in India’s neighbourhood. The stark contrast between their vocal opposition then and their current silence on a genuine humanitarian issue raises questions about the consistency and authenticity of their advocacy for human rights and liberal values. As such, three overarching aspects demand our attention.
First, the double standards of a state known best for promoting terrorism are on full display alongside the grave costs associated with sponsoring terrorism. Pakistan’s rationale for expelling Afghan refugees hinges on the purported link between their presence and an upsurge in terrorist attacks, citing that 14 out of 24 bombings in the country were linked to Afghan nationals. This explanation, while ostensibly addressing security concerns, ironically underscores Pakistan’s historical complicity in fostering terrorism. The proverb, “For all who take the sword will perish by the sword,” resonates vividly and fittingly with Pakistan’s history of sponsoring terrorism.
Second, the incident starkly showcases the double-speak of the West, including its so-called free media, which went to great lengths to criticise Indian citizenship laws. Where do organizations, self-proclaimed paragons of virtue like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, stand in the face of apparent hypocrisy? How much coverage is this (one of the most disastrous) crisis for the Afghan population getting worldwide? The response to the Afghan crisis so far has been conspicuously limited, focusing on highlighting the plight of Afghans without explicitly condemning the actions of the Pakistani government. This stands in stark contrast to their swift condemnation of India for enacting a legal law in Parliament, which, rather than expelling anyone, offered expedited citizenship to religiously vulnerable groups. The irony is palpable—aren’t the Afghans fleeing Pakistan predominantly Muslims?
Another under-discussed hypocrisy lies in the nuanced descriptions favoured by Western critics when justifying the actions they defend. In India’s case, these nuances were dismissed as excuses, but for Pakistan, they are resurrected. The UNHRC defended Pakistan by asserting that the Pakistan government has assured those with refugee cards will not be expelled. However, the government said that in the first wave, refugees without cards are asked to leave, suggesting that in subsequent waves, even cardholders would be expelled. Disturbingly, reports detailing harassment and expulsion threats have emerged against the cardholders, which lack the same widespread coverage afforded to Indian laws.
Third, most notably, the conspicuous silence of the wokes, liberals, the Muslims within India, who once marched with megaphones during the NRC/CAA events, is arresting. Their silence and ignorance transcend mere overlooking the crises; it exposes their false narrative about caring for the Muslim populace for which they were so frantically worried. But as it turns out, their double standards are not an isolated occurrence. They cherished the Turkish criticism of Israel and support for Palestine as daring resistance. Yet, the ongoing Turkish atrocities against Kurds, primarily Muslim, are conveniently overlooked.
These self-appointed preachers of humanity reveal themselves to be nothing more than opportunistic actors with a blatant agenda—voicing and promoting their ideological biases against India. In a crude assessment, they appear to be driven by a singular goal: to undermine and denigrate India’s progress, prosperity, and security. It’s almost as if anything contributing to India’s success irks them, compelling them to persist in their ideological crusade to defame, denounce, and deteriorate India’s achievements. Their actions seem more rooted in personal animosity than genuine concern for the principles they claim to uphold. Also, recall the reactions of these usual suspects when a viral image of the Pakistani intelligence chief in Kabul shortly after the Taliban’s takeover stirred waves of speculation and admiration within India, painting it as a display of Pakistan’s adept intelligence and superior geopolitical manoeuvring. However, as events unfold, the question arises: where are those individuals now? Clearly, the Afghan crisis is not worth their time.
In essence, the complex dynamics surrounding the expulsion of Afghan refugees by Pakistan reveal that for liberals, wokes, and the many Muslims morality is selective, the sense of caring for the Muslim lives is selective, and even outrage to humanitarian crises is selective. The current situation, marked by double standards, selective Western criticism, and the telling silence within India, signals a profound crisis in public intellectual discourse. To address this, a push for increased knowledge and understanding, free from ideological biases, is imperative. Wrongdoings must be called out, while measures like CAA/NRC, aimed at safeguarding the vulnerable, deserve objective scrutiny. Dealing with current the humanitarian crises demands a genuine commitment to principles and a sincere examination of the issues at hand rather than relying on armchair critics masquerading under the pretence of humanity.
Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is the Vice-Chancellor of JNU.