Afghans have completed their 21 years of refuge in Pakistan. Due to their two decade long presence, Pakistan's social, economic, political and cultural life has been confronted with a number of effects. These effects are either positive or negative. Repeatedly Pakistani media have been throwing lights on the positive and negative aspect s of these effects. One school of thought is of the belief that Afghan refugees have multiplied problems of the local people, for instance population explosion, price hike, law and order situation, unemployment Fundamentalism and other problems.

Very often media has caused a wave of resentment amongst the people of Pakistan against the presence of Afghans on this land. Hence, people of Pakistan have demanded of their government to send Afghan refugees back to their homeland and if it is not possible then they need to be restricted to their camps. This demand has been given extra stress for the past few months. Even Chief Minister of NWFP Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan announced 15th of March 1999 as fixed date for their restriction to camps. However, due to some political and administrative reasons this decision was deferred. This development sowed a seed of insecurity among Afghans that they could be displaced any time. At the same time, there have been deep-rooted feelings of love fraternity and friendship in the minds of Afghans towards the locals lest they should not fall prey to the political expedience of a few individuals. Most Pakistanis share similar views that Afghans are having historical background they have their own distinct culture and tradition. Having crossed Torkham border, they have entered this area along with their particular customs, habits and a lot of cultural heritage. How people of this area have accepted these riches of Afghans about this Dr. Raj wali shah Khatak, Chairman Pashto Academy University of Peshawar says: "It would not be wrong to say that we are also Afghans because some time back our land was a part of Afghanistan. After the division, both Afghans from upper and lower Pakhtoonkhwa continued their exchange of visits. Therefore stay of Afghans on this land is not a new thing."

He told that the only difference between the old and the present Afghans is that they the present Afghans have come here due to political change and possibilities to their returning homeland are not favorable. While the old ones used to continue visits purely on business and social lines. Dr. Rajwali Shah Khattak also admits the reality that entry of Afghans refugees has proved very fruitful for the growth and nourishment of pashto literature. Writers and intellectuals of lower and upper Pukhtoonkhawa were given an opportunity of coming close to each other, he added .It resulted in the unity of Pashto script. Quite a large number of Pashto and Dari write-ups were contributed and research activities in Afghan literature received a boost. He argued that the on-going imbroglio has, indeed proved a blessing in disguise for Pashto literature.

Dr. Shajehan Sayed Chairman Dept. of Journalism University of Peshawar, while expressing his opinion said that we have been strongly bonded with the soil of Afghanistan in soul, love and blood. The bonds he added have been reinforced with passage of time .The local People of our country have learned a lot by dent of hosting Afghans brothers for the last twenty years. Dr. Shajehan opined that due to the close association with Afghan refugees local people have undergone drastic changes in term of language, outfits and food. He believed that Afghan-presence has caused a very positive change in the life of the local people. Chief editor of Pashto Daily Wahdat Mr. Pir Sufaid Shah Hamdard declares the presence of Afghans Refugees the main reason behind the lunching of a Pashto daily in Pakistan. He said before Afghans their was no concept of a Pashto daily because people were not familiar with Pashto journalism .Now due to Afghan readership we have three Pashto and dari dailies and a number of news papers And journals, he added.

Mr. Shamim Shahid a prominent local Journalist and Bureau Chief of national daily The Nation , Who usually writes and reporters on Afghan human rights. Mr. Shamim is very inspired from the Afghan Foods particularly Kabuli Palau or rice. He said that Afghans are very decent people, which is visible in their restaurants stretched across the country from Khyber to Karachi, which are teeming with Afghani food lovers.

Stay of Afghans on this soil also brought about deep-rooted changes in the outfits of local people. Mr. Shamim said that there had been no harmony and unity in the dresses of local people but due to the entry of Afghan refugees, a beautiful and desirable unity has been viewed. Now shirt and trouser has become a customary dress." He maintained. Apart from Pakistani males, the females are also appreciates the Afghan ladies- dresses. Mrs.Wahida Sajjad , lecturer Dept. of Sociology University of Peshawar said that music ,foods, outfits and inexpressible beauty of Afghans can be found only in fairy tales. She also believes that local music is now having a visible color of Afghani music, which is of nice effect. She added, due to the entry of Naghma and Mangal, possibly market of local singers might have received a rude shock but it is a favorable and enjoyable change for the audience.Mrs. Waheeda Sajjad also appreciates very much the Afghan female –dresses particularly handicrafts and hand woven embroidery.

Mrs. Salma Shaheen, Lecturer Dept. of Pashto University of Peshawar, while expressing her views on the effects of the stay of Afghan refugees on Pakistani soil.She said we have learned a lot from the company of those Afghan writers, Intellectuals, and poets whose presence even we could not have imagine in our life. She has a deep love for Afghani culture especially Afghani foods and dresses as well music. Famous Pakistani Journalist and bureau Chief of daily The News International, Mr. Rahimullah Yousafzai,Who earned the name for coverage of Afghan Issue.He is of the opinion that apart from a few problems local people have no compliant against Afghans .He has time and again pin-pointed in his articles that presence of Afghans has benefited a lot the local people; for instance, trade-activities have escalated side by side business in different walks of life we has increased ..

Provincial Chief of Pakistan Human Rights commission Mr. Afrasyab Khatak in this regard said that irony of history had inducted separation between Afghans of both sides but political changes have united them again. This has renewed the old links between the two Afghans they recognized each other from the very close view as if two lost brothers are reunited. Mr. Afrasiab Khattak opined that Afghan have never taken any thing from the local rather given a lot to them. He said for a period Afghans received foreign aids, but for the last 10 years they have, been making their livelihood through their own hands. In this way, he stressed, they have kept alive their ego and ghairat. They are busy in making carpets. Their women are busy in handicrafts; and embroidery work .Their youth are putting their maximum potential to join the race of survival of the fittest." He concluded'.

By : Mati ullah Abid
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