Paper short abstract:

Drawing from different cases of multiple migrations, this paper seeks to explore and understand the complexities underlying the migration patterns and dislocation(s), in relation to the (in)voluntariness and (im)mobility exercised and experienced by the Afghans migrants.

Paper long abstract:

Afghanistan has, for decades, remained one of the leading countries of origin of refugees and asylum seekers, starting from the first major wave of emigration following the Russian invasion in 1979. Afghanistan has also witnessed one of the largest refugee returns, particularly in early 2000s. However, the Taliban coming to power in August 2021 led to another significant outward flow. More than 600,000 individuals migrated to Pakistan alone. These included not only the first-time arrivals but also those who had already lived as refugees in Pakistan almost two decades ago. Furthermore, this also included Afghans who lived as refugees in Iran and after repatriating to Afghanistan, found themselves in a situation where they decided to undertake migration, but this time to Pakistan. In many of these cases, Pakistan (despite being the first country of asylum) was not intended to be the (final) destination. Caught up in bureaucratic struggle and uncertainty, some of them chose to return to Afghanistan while others succeeded in travelling to the Europe or America. However, their countries of entry in Europe or America also did not become the countries of permanent residence for many. Drawing from different cases of multiple migrations, this paper seeks to explore and understand the complexities underlying migration patterns and dislocation(s), in relation to the (in)voluntariness and (im)mobility exercised and experienced by the Afghans. This study is based on the ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Pakistan between March 2022 and May 2023, complemented by the mediated (online) communications, carried out afterward.