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Afghanistan a land of rugged mountains, rough and tough terrain, extremely harsh climate, hostile environment, attracts for unknown reasons to adventurer powers always. There is a famous saying that you come on your own to this place but will leave on our (Afghans) wish. British imperialism saw massive murders of its troops by Afghan people in mid of 19th century while the 16,000 troops marched from Kabul towards British India and only a single person could escape probably was purposely left alive by Afghans to tell the story.

Likely Soviet Union was not in mood to learn lessons from past history. Soviet Union tried its best to control Afghanistan but was successful only in devastating this nation. No body knows what is going to happen in future while the Allies forces are there in Afghanistan presently. Apart from presence of Allies Army this is clear that fighting has not yet stopped, internal displacement has not decreased, forgiveness has not been practiced, grudges are on extreme, and reconstruction program is far away from reality. Afghans not only need help in reconstruction of their nation but they wish stoppage of external interference in what so ever form is.

Afghanistan a gateway to Central Asia equally enjoyed and suffered its geo-political strategic location. This land locked country in recent times has suffered more than its benefits. Its current population has been estimated to 26.6 million of who 6 million are outside the country mainly as refugees, asylum seekers, and brain drain. More than one million are internally displaced due to tribal conflicts, drought, non-operational irrigation infrastructures, and homelessness. 22% population lives in urban centers. Among rural population a considerable number are nomads and semi-nomads. In terms of social development indicators country is far below in ranking. Average life expectancy is just 46 years. Infant mortality is 147 out of 1000 live births as compared to 74 in South Asia region. 49% of children under five year age suffer from malnutrition. Throughout the country access to safe/improved drinking water supply and coverage is available to only 13 % populations. Illiteracy among population above 15 years age is 63 %. Gross primary enrollment among school going age groups for boys is 64 and girls is 32. These facts and figures put the country among poorest nations in the world.

Communist coup in early 1978 led to serous disturbances in the country and as a result people started migrating to neighboring countries; Iran and Pakistan. Refugee influx increased tremendously as Soviet Army entered in the country in December 1979. In early 1980 at least four million Afghan refugees, about every fourth person, came to Pakistan. At that time western world responded quickly to refugee issue mainly due to political reasons in order to aggravate Soviet Union role.

Camps were set up quickly, videos were made, reports were written, propaganda was made, and enormous aid was sent under humanitarian umbrella. Thousand of people were killed during the war and million are disabled and widows. A hope of stability was expected after the with drawl of Soviet Union in 1989 but in vein as new government and war lords could not agree to share government and political structure.
War torn country again saw unrest, anarchy, institutional breakages, brain drain and civil war as its continuing fat. Soviet Union, once super power and traditional allies, also withdraw support in this critical situation. During this period some of refugees started going back home in the hope of new era and opportunities. Many refugees did not find it safe to move back. Country has still two million mines posing continuous threats for security and search for livelihood associated with agriculture, livestock, and mineral development and so on throughout the country.

Meanwhile during 1995 the generous and humanitarian western word changed its face from respect to odium towards refugees and stopped all kinds of aid supply mainly food. Refugees burden all of sudden came on shoulders of host government - Pakistan. This situation was not only strange for Pakistani government but refugees saw themselves no where. They then came to know new labels for Mujahids or freedom fighters to fundamentalists, uneducated, primitive, and uncivilized. These were labels from their previous friends who actually used them against Soviet Union on the name of Islam, but it was too late now to realize the game.

The hostile and rowdy local commander has left no space for peace, security and law enforcement in the country. Alone from Chaman, Pakistani border, to southern city of Afghanistan Kandhar within a distance of 75 miles there were 64 check post set up by local commanders to charge levy from traffic on their own. There was no concept of central government in practical terms during this period.

In such situation a group of ex-Mujahdins fighters gathered and started fighting and capturing country The Taleban of whom no body was aware about this term before. Soon they became ruler of most of country. Victim and poor people welcome them at that time and saw them pioneer of peace, security and relief providers. Soon clashes and differences aroused between Taleban and their string movers in western world. Taleban were no more liked and accepted to west.

According to western word Afghanistan again went in medieval ages as women had no rights in the society. Taleban has no respect for statues of lord Budha even. They insisted to oppose all development activities in the country.

Meanwhile country went into disaster of serous drought from 1998. This had again impact on poor population and once again people started moving to Pakistan. During this period northern territory of about 5% area remained under the control of Northern Alliance opponent of Taleban. This has led to mass with drawl of ethnic Pashtun population from their controlled areas. Fighting in this area led to mass killing on both sides Northern Alliance and Taleban. People stated evocating the area and most of these people were now displaced within their own homeland This time a new type of forced migration within their own country. By January 2002 there were more than one million internally displaced people within their own home land.
UN agencies say that 172,000 Afghan refugees came to Pakistan during year 2000. But this time again there was no aid for them from international community as crop of political plantation did not ripe yet. At this stage UN agencies estimated that
Afghan refugees living in Pakistan are two million as compared to last estimated figure of 1.2 million. At that time 1.2 million were living in refugee camps and rest were in urban areas, living with relatives, tribal fellows and moved to suitable sites. On the other hand 93,000 Afghan refugees repatriated during 1998. During year 2000 some 76000 Afghan refugees repatriated to home country and in those day 3159 Afghan refugees from Pakistan moved to third country(ies) mainly in North America and Europe.

After September 11 when US blamed Afghanistan as giving refuge to culprits of New York attack, once again Afghan people started running towards Pakistan from a fear of attack. People came after traveling of hundreds of miles with two edges fear from Taleban and attack of US Allied forces. Many people were killed under the possible suspicion of Taleban supporters. Refugee Caravans moving with camels towards Pakistani border were killed through US heavy air strikes. Before dying innocent refugee travelers even were not aware of their fault and did not know about the killers whether Taleban or US forces. In another similar incident just by disinformation provided to US officials a nomads village near Jalalabad was demolished by air strikes where more than 200 innocents including women and children were killed brutally. In these circumstances lucky people were able to cross border and to live without fear of killing at least.

Pakistan at that time closed border to ban the entry without any legal documents. International community once again changed its face and requested Pakistani government to allow them inside.
Again camps were setup in Pakistans land and aid started coming. At least 200,000 refugees came after September 11 incident. Total numbers of refugees are above two million in Pakistan. There are many camps setup and presently aid is coming from other countries also.
The camps set-up under new aid program in Balochistan province are located in six districts. By middle of March 2001 there were more than 150,000 refugees registered in different camps in Balochistan. Chaman five camps having population of about 70,000 at that time. Mohammad Kheil has two camps with population of approximately 80,000. Female population in these camps is accounting for 47 % of total refugees. About 4 % population is above age of 60 years and not able to work for earning livelihoods. Population under 5 years is about 18 % which is again totally dependent on family head. In this way 69 % population is solely dependent upon rest of population for bread earning. Average household size is 5.2 among refugee population at camps.

There are at least 100,000 invisible refugees in urban areas of province where institutional support for food items cant be provided by UN agencies. International NGOs including organizations from Islamic world offering humanitarian assistance in these camps. The already drought affected province of Balochistan simply cant afford the burden even with heavy inputs from abroad. For example funds are available to provide water to refugee camps but water availability is a challenging issue since rains are not there, aquifer has exhausted and recharge possibilities for underground water sources do not exist. Present water resources can hardly meet the present demand what to say for tomorrow?

Alone funds and sympathies cant fill the hopes when basic commodity like water is simply not enough in the region. Pull factor to attract refugees for their motherland is just a mirage and refugees are well aware of this situation and simply do not want to move inside. Many of refugee population never saw their homeland as person of 24 years age hardly knows about his/her motherland. By legal terms he/she is alien to this place and considered refugee and is deprived of institutional support from Pakistani side. Meager natural resources in province put refugee and local population face to face for competition and an ever ending bitterness created among two groups. Relationship of religion, blood, tribes, linguistic, ethnicity and history are no more valid over a water tanker and then what to say about sympathy, humanity, culture and politics.

There is ray of hope when its indigenous leadership is given chance, time and support to rebuild the nation, when tolerance is adapted, when women are given equal opportunities, when skilled people come back and when nature is kind enough to bring rains. The hard working nation can bring miracle of development provided confidence is build and interference is avoided.