Pakistan's decision to deport over 1.5 million allegedly undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants has reignited tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, according to a report by Al Jazeera. Since the deadline for the refugees to leave Pakistan or face detention ended on October 31, more than 200,000 Afghans have crossed into Afghanistan, further exacerbating the strained relationship between the two neighboring nations.

The Afghan government spokesperson, Bilal Karimi, expressed outrage over the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees, stating that it goes against norms of good neighborliness. Kabul criticized Pakistan's action as "unilateral" and "humiliating." Karimi also pointed out that the large-scale expulsion during harsh winter weather is a cruel and unfair decision.

Over the years, a significant number of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan, particularly during the Soviet invasion in the late 1970s and 1980s, as well as after the US intervention following the 9/11 attacks. The recent power shift and rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan saw an influx of 600,000 to 800,000 Afghans into Pakistan.

According to the Pakistani government, there were approximately 4 million foreigners in the country before October 31, and nearly 3.8 million of them were Afghans. Protested by Pakistan, only 2.2 million Afghans possess a government-approved document that grants them the eligibility to stay.

Pakistan has blamed Afghan fighters and migrants for a surge in armed attacks inside its borders in recent years. The country's interim Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, stated that out of the 24 suicide bombings in Pakistan this year, 14 were carried out by Afghan nationals.

The deteriorating relations between the two countries are largely attributed to the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned armed group with ideological ties to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan accuses the TTP of carrying out numerous deadly attacks, primarily in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces which share a border with Afghanistan.

Pakistan claims that the TTP finds safe havens in Afghanistan and uses its territory to launch attacks against Pakistani security forces and installations. However, Afghan authorities consistently deny these allegations, stating that they have no involvement in Pakistan's internal security concerns.

Interim Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, condemned Pakistan's decision to deport refugees, asserting that it violates international laws. Furthermore, his deputy, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, warned Pakistan against forcing Afghans to react, highlighting the historical response af Afghans to such situations.

Analysts believe that Pakistan's inability to control TTP attacks has led it to expel Afghan refugees as a desperate attempt to pressurize Kabul into taking action against the armed group. Critics argue that the forced deportation of Afghan refugees is ethically and morally wrong, fueling xenophobia and ultimately creating more problems rather than resolving existing ones.

On the other hand, some security analysts in Pakistan argue that armed groups like the TTP take advantage of Afghan refugees, who provide them with refuge and logistical support. They assert that it is essential to adopt a firm approach towards Afghanistan's interim government to ensure peace and security within Pakistan.

The deportation policy implemented by Pakistan has further strained the perception of Afghan citizens towards Pakistan, reinforcing a negative lens through which they view the neighboring country. The forced return of refugees back to Afghanistan is a nightmare scenario for those who fled the Taliban rule, as they are now being compelled to live under their governance once again.

As tensions continue to escalate between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the deportation of Afghan refugees, it remains to be seen how the two countries will navigate their delicate relationship and address the security concerns that have contributed to this conflict. This war against the TTP has only created villains and victims, and sadly, the Afghan refugees find themselves as the victims in this distressing narrative.