Afghan students face deportation from Pakistan

Afghan medical students in Pakistan are in a state of uncertainty following a directive from the Medical and Dental Council ordering their return to Afghanistan. The council's instruction has been temporarily suspended for students in Punjab by a court order, but the future remains precarious. Many students, like Nooria, who fled conflict to pursue medical studies on scholarships, fear their academic progress will be invalidated.

These final-year students, some with valid visas, worry that without completing their degrees and practical training, their credits will not be recognized elsewhere, forcing them to start over. The decision has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and former diplomats, who deem it discriminatory. The medical council stated that students were not registered, a claim disputed by the students who point to college responsibilities.

This situation has intensified as relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated, leading to increased deportations. The students emphasize that their ability to study should not be affected by political tensions. For individuals like Nooria, the prospect of returning to Afghanistan, where women are barred from higher education and employment by the Taliban, represents the end of their aspirations and a betrayal of their sacrifices.