‘I want to cry’: Afghan medical students in Pakistan face expulsion fear

[El Sidd]

Very lively nation.

9 pages of discussion with diverse opinion and eager to form consensus.

 

[Master Chief]

The claim that “all Afghans are ungrateful and anti‑Pakistan” is factually incorrect, historically incomplete, and unfair to millions of Afghans who have lived peacefully, contributed economically, and maintained positive ties with Pakistan. Security concerns are real, but they don’t justify blanket judgments about an entire people.

Recently, I was invited by Afghani brother for Dinner and Pakistani retired Major sahab was also there.

You continue to misinterpret reality.

Kabul does not recognise Pakistani sovereignty. That individual Afghans are cordial, polite, and even good guests in Pakistan, is very much true. However, barring those who explicitly reject their own state policy in this regard (and there are plenty who do reject it for various reasons), the default assumption is justified. This is not blind discrimination but rather is a merit/evidence based assessment.

 

[The Sundance Kid]

Sure, not EVERY individual is problematic.

Still, better to just shut the door and be safe.

 

[Pakistanithinktank]

You continue to misinterpret reality.

Kabul does not recognise Pakistani sovereignty. That individual Afghans are cordial, polite, and even good guests in Pakistan, is very much true. However, barring those who explicitly reject their own state policy in this regard (and there are plenty who do reject it for various reasons), the default assumption is justified. This is not blind discrimination but rather is a merit/evidence based assessment.

There is no need to argue because you already answered your own question.

You acknowledged that many Afghans are cordial and respectful in Pakistan,
many explicitly reject Kabul’s hostile posture and many abroad have no anti‑Pakistan sentiment at all.
Yet you still insist on a “default assumption” that treats them as aligned with Kabul.

If observed behavior contradicts the assumption, the assumption is wrong not the people.

I’m not misinterpreting reality at all. In fact, I’m painfully clear about who the real enemy of Pakistan is and it’s not ordinary Afghans, not neighboring countries, not outsiders. The real enemy is the puppet‑master elite inside Pakistan who have been draining this country for 79 years, feeding on public resources like vampires while pretending to be guardians of the state.

Pakistan has accumulated 307 billion dollars in total debt over these decades, yet look around, what do we have to show for it? No world‑class infrastructure, Lahore is not Paris, no stable institutions, no reliable governance, not long‑term economic vision. Just a cycle of mismanagement, corruption, and short‑term power games.

These people, the entrenched elite, the unaccountable power centers, the corrupt political mafia, are the ones who have hollowed out Pakistan from the inside. They are the ones who have turned a nation with immense potential into a perpetual crisis zone. They are the ones who have kept the public divided, distracted, and exhausted while they quietly enrich themselves.

So no, I’m not confused about reality. I’m simply refusing to blame ordinary Afghans or any other community for problems that were created by Pakistan’s own ruling class. The real threat to Pakistan has always been internal, the people who hold power without accountability, who make decisions without consequences, and who treat the country like their personal estate.

 

[Master Chief]

You acknowledged that many Afghans are cordial and respectful in Pakistan,
many explicitly reject Kabul’s hostile posture and many abroad have no anti‑Pakistan sentiment at all.
Yet you still insist on a “default assumption” that treats them as aligned with Kabul.

If observed behavior contradicts the assumption, the assumption is wrong not the people.

We don't differ that such individuals exist. We probably differ on the relative proportions of such individuals that exist.

We may also possibly differ on what defines "anti-Pakistan" sentiment.

For me, acceptance of Pakistani sovereignty over its western border constitutes either a neutral or a "pro-Pakistan" sentiment. Rejection of the border, in any theoretical or material sense, constitutes an "anti-Pakistan" sentiment. FYI, all Afghans I have met in the west are adamant that NWFP is "Afghan land" and some "freedom of movement" should exist, regardless of the behaviour of Afghans.

I don't think Schengen rules would be permitted in Europe if Italians were constantly blowing up Austrians or vice versa.