Afghan female medical students studying in Pakistan are facing the threat of deportation following a directive from the country's Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). The regulator issued a letter to medical and dental colleges, instructing them to send Afghan students back to their home country, with a warning of serious consequences for non-compliance. This directive has created immense distress and uncertainty for students who fear the loss of their educational opportunities.
While a temporary stay order from the Lahore High Court has halted immediate deportations for students in Punjab, the future remains uncertain as the court hears the case. The PMDC stated that it could not comment further due to the ongoing legal proceedings. However, the council's lawyer indicated that the Afghan students were not registered with the PMDC, a claim the students contest, stating that college administration is responsible for registration as per earlier PMDC notifications.
The situation arises amid deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan's Taliban government of harboring militant groups, allegations that Kabul denies. Since 2023, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been deported from Pakistan, and over two million have left the country, according to UN figures.
The PMDC's decision has drawn sharp criticism from international human rights organizations. Amnesty International described the directive as "patently discriminatory and arbitrary," emphasizing Pakistan's obligations under international human rights law to ensure the right to education without national origin-based discrimination. Former Pakistani envoys to Afghanistan also urged the council to reconsider the decision, citing humanitarian concerns and moral responsibility.
For students like "Nooria" (who requested her name be withheld), the prospect of returning to Afghanistan represents the end of a hard-won dream. Having initially studied medicine at Kabul University, she fled to Pakistan when Taliban forces approached the city. She was offered a scholarship to continue her medical studies in Lahore and is now a final-year student. She described sacrificing personal relationships and time with family and friends to focus intensely on her studies.
"I was studying, day and night. I couldn't sleep because there was so much pressure and knowledge that I had accumulated in my mind," she told the BBC. "I think I haven't lived for these years, I have only studied for my dream."
Another final-year student, Said Mubin, expressed similar despair. "It was like a panic situation because they were giving us very short time to evacuate the (accommodation), the college," he said.
Without completing their degrees, students fear that their credits will not be recognized elsewhere, potentially requiring them to restart their education from the first year. Anayatullah Momand, a spokesperson for the Afghan medical students, estimates that approximately 1,000 medical and dental students are affected, with a significant portion holding valid visas. However, Pakistan's Ministry for Foreign Affairs has stated that Afghan students in Pakistan on valid visas for registered courses will be allowed to continue their education, a statement that has not yet translated into a change in the students' circumstances.