KABUL: Taliban authorities appealed Pakistan on Thursday not to make a unilateral decision on repatriating Afghan migrants, saying they should not be “harassed”, after reports Islamabad would renew an expulsion campaign.
The plea from the Taliban comes in response to reports that Pakistan is planning to renew its campaign to evict Afghan migrants, including those residing legally in the country. Last year, over half a million Afghans returned to Afghanistan following Islamabad’s directive for undocumented migrants to leave or face arrest, amidst deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Kabul over security issues.
Although Islamabad initially set a deadline for repatriation by November 2023, officials have indicated that Pakistan is currently gathering data on Afghan migrants, with plans for a renewed push expected to start after the holy month of Ramadan. However, Pakistani authorities have clarified that a final decision on the matter has yet to be made.
In response to these developments, Abdul Rahman Rashed, the Afghan deputy minister for refugees, emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation in addressing the issue of refugees. Rashed stressed that decisions regarding Afghan migrants should be made through mutual understanding between both countries.
The Taliban, since assuming power in 2021, has consistently urged Afghan nationals to return to their homeland. Afghanistan has witnessed a significant influx of refugees into Pakistan over the decades, with millions fleeing successive conflicts and political instability.
