Afghanistan Peace CampaignAmid the intensified deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, met with Obaidur Rahman Nizamani, acting ambassador of Pakistan in Kabul.
In this meeting, Muttaqi described the mistreatment of Afghan migrants as alarming and damaging to the relations between the two countries.
Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The Foreign Minister, expressing his regret over the forced deportation of Afghan migrants and the inappropriate conduct of certain Pakistani institutions, called the current mistreatment provocative and detrimental to bilateral relations, and demanded that the situation be rectified.”
Meanwhile, several political analysts said that Pakistan is using the migrant issue as a tool to exert political pressure on the caretaker government and that sustained dialogue between Kabul and Islamabad could provide a solution to the crisis.
Abdul Sadiq Hamidzoy, a political analyst, said: “This action by Pakistan increases hatred, and it is neither in Pakistan’s interest, nor Afghanistan’s, nor that of the migrants who face numerous challenges upon their return.”
Najib-ur-Rahman Shumal, another political analyst, stated: “Under various pretexts, Pakistan’s military regime has pressured Afghan migrants and expelled tens of thousands of them through beatings, imprisonment, humiliation, and insults. These actions have sparked international reactions and drawn criticism from the global community.”
On the other hand, some Afghan migrants residing in Pakistan complain about their living conditions and report facing mounting pressure and restrictions.
Atiqullah Mansour, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, said: “Some children and youth have been unable to complete their education, and Afghans who have conducted business in Pakistan for years are now unable to transfer their transactions and economic activities in this short period.”
Shabana, another Afghan migrant in Pakistan, said: “Pakistan has made a final decision to send Afghan migrants back to Afghanistan, regardless of whether they hold ACC or PoR cards. Although there is a slight easing in the attitude of the Pakistani police, it remains a major challenge for migrants to transfer their assets and business dealings in such a short time.”
This comes as, since the beginning of April, Pakistan has escalated the deportation process of Afghan migrants. According to local officials in Nangarhar, approximately 40,000 Afghan migrants have been forcibly deported from Pakistan in the past 16 days.