Vocal Voices

Pakistan is in the process of expelling 1.7 million Afghans from Pakistan.

Strangely enough this news has not featured widely in the UK's media. I thought that Gary Lineker would have been all over it with his "Not since the dark days of 1930's Germany.." routine. But no.

It was reported, but quietly.

It is not only Pakistan, Iran is also doing expulsions.

I am not sure anybody in the region has any influence over this, let alone the wider world. The surrounding 'Stans' don't want to get involved for fear of the Taliban / Islamists. China, India? Not a chance.

Afghanistan has been a failed state since the time of Alexander the Great, and no invading Empire has ever been able to control it, not even the Mongols.

I am not sure that there is an answer.

Very quietly indeed. I didn't even realise that Iran was also doing it.

A local Pakistani family with kids aged 10 and 12 visited relations in Quetta, about 25k from the Afghan border, every year during the autumn half term. After last year's trip they didn't go this year because they said it was not safe.

Pakistan is not yet a failed state, but is working on it. It is a problem for the region, and possibly the world, because Pakistan is a nuclear power.