Marginality and Migration: Cultural Dimensions of the Afghan Refugee Problem

Abstract

Given the duration of time that has passed since the Afghan refugee influx into Pakistan began and the absence of any immediate prospect for a political settlement which would allow the refugees to return home, it is necessary to consider what the long-term requirements of this population might be and the implications of permanent resettlement on both the refugees and the host country. For policy makers, these are urgent questions that must be confronted not only to help ensure the health, safety and productive future of the refugees, but also to minimize the risks of even greater political instability in this troubled region. This article will attempt to provide some basic insights into the society and culture of the Afghan refugees and will consider what impact dislocation and settlement have had specifically on tribally-organized Pakhtuns, who comprise approximately 50 percent of the Afghan population generally and perhaps 80 to 90 percent of the refugee population.