Sir the decision should be mostly up to Pashtuns, true pashtuns unlike wannabe ones like me as most afghans come to KPK and the ones with criminal mindsets FATA too. Infact there are forts in FATA owned by Afghans. I do hope there is some solution to the Pakistan Afghan hostility but most of the hostility ccomes from Afghanistan. When writing my book about pashtuns I witnessed it firsthand. I went to their forums with a lot of respect for all Afghans and extra for pashtuns of course, I came back dejected, forlorn and very anti afghan. Anyone would be towards people who want to break my nation.
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Let me note here I am not an opponent on immigration but my opposition to some Afghans entering is purely based on the Afghans I have been in contact with, none of whom have a positive image of Pakistan.
There are some racist attitudes towards immigration all over the world including with what is happening in America and it takes time for people to see the bigger picture but there are societies where immigration has been well managed. For example I know Canada has a shortage of doctors and engineers. So a person from these fields seems to be more likely to gain their citizenship, atleast thats what we noticed anyway. So if Pakistan has a shortage of uni grads (6%-10% of our total population only) then why not try to improve the economy and higher education standards by allowing those with such qualifications in?
For Pakistanis, us Pakistanis to see the bigger picture it will require time but the foreign nations are an example. Even Zaire gives citizenship to Pakistanis and Indians who are generally rich. I have heard of such cases.
Also if I haven't mentioned it before I was born in Islamabad to parents who were born in Lucknow and surrounding parts. I am a staunch Pakistani today. Usually it takes time for foreigners to merge within the national fabric even after gaining citizenship but it is worth it if these foreigners are managed and in the long term. With Afghans I would be a joker if I said the process has been well managed-letting in poor Afghans we could barely manage. But whats wrong with having uni grads, well educated people as Pakistani citizens? As the article suggests there are some such people who are also patriotic due to the local education/naturalization process. They could be the vanguard for something bigger. Perhaps the merger of Afghanistan. That country will be a pain in the *** for us for eternity if not checked. They already don't accept the durand line and believe me its 90% of the pashtuns there with such a view.
Movement of humans from one part to another is a fact of life today. Look at Australia, Canada and other countries even UAE which does not give citizenship but is a vibrant economy. How many of us are sitting away from our countries enjoying the fruits of immigration today. I think the process should be improved for immigration in Pakistan. Should we reject each and every applicant though? No. Do background research, note the skills, talents and education of the applicant, judge them for their ability to assimilate, then if a person gets accepted what is the problem. Lets not be like Trump. If the world worked that way many of us would be in different parts of the world today. From the birth of homo sapiens we have been moving. From Africa to Middle east to europe, to china to india indus wherever. It is the human way.
@Doordie @war&peace