Afghanistan urges Washington to handle the deportation of Afghan immigrants responsibly as reports suggest more than 150 people could be sent back through Pakistan.
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have expressed serious concern over reported United States plans to deport Afghan immigrants through Pakistan, urging Washington to handle the process responsibly.
Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on Monday that the authorities were concerned about reports that the United States intended to send Afghan refugees to Pakistan who had not secured legal residency documents there.
The statement highlighted Kabul’s concerns about the proposed deportations and the circumstances facing Afghan nationals who could be returned to their home country.
The Afghan Foreign Ministry also indicated that the Taliban administration was prepared to engage constructively with Washington on the matter, taking into consideration the existing situation and the legitimate interests of both sides.
The deportation plans involve more than 150 Afghan immigrants, according to reports published in the United States. The first flight was expected as early as November 2, with Pakistan reportedly serving as a transit route for their eventual return to Afghanistan.
The proposed operation comes as US President Donald Trump’s administration continues its broader immigration enforcement and deportation drive.
Several of the Afghans facing removal reportedly include relatives of individuals who worked alongside American forces before the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Refugee advocacy organisations have raised concerns about the potential risks these individuals could face if returned.
The United States does not maintain diplomatic relations with the Taliban administration, complicating arrangements for direct deportations to Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s possible involvement in the transfer has also attracted attention because the country has been conducting its own campaign to repatriate undocumented Afghan nationals.
The latest development adds another dimension to the complicated situation surrounding Afghan refugees, US immigration policy and Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
The US administration has not publicly confirmed the full details of the reported deportation operation, while important questions surrounding the arrangements and the status of those facing removal remain unresolved.
