Mass Return: Over 130,000 Afghan Migrants Repatriated from Pakistan, Iran

According to the report, two million Afghans are expected to return from Iran and more than 1.6 million others from Pakistan this year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 130,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Pakistan and Iran between April 1 and 13.

According to the report, two million Afghans are expected to return from Iran and more than 1.6 million others from Pakistan this year.

The WHO stated: “These individuals have returned either forcibly or voluntarily, with 60% coming from Pakistan and 40% from Iran.”

Alireza Karimi, a migrant rights activist, said: “The Islamic Emirate must be prepared to accept, resettle, and socially integrate the returning citizens. Host countries also have a responsibility to treat migrants humanely and appropriately under international laws.”

Meanwhile, Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at UNHCR, discussed the situation of Afghan migrants in Pakistan with Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.

The Pakistani special representative wrote on X about the discussions during the meeting that: “International community resettled only 86,000 of Afghan nationals out of 800,000 who entered Pakistan after August 2021.”

Reza Sakhi, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, stated: “Migrant problems are numerous. Since March 31, the deadline, the issues have worsened—especially for those without documentation or expired visas. They have reapplied but received no assistance.”

Malik Awal Shinwari, another Afghan migrant in Pakistan, said: “Migrants should be given a reasonable timeframe to make serious decisions about their future and be provided the opportunity to return voluntarily.”

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Economy has called on international aid agencies for stronger cooperation in addressing the returnees’ challenges. The acting minister emphasized that constructing housing complexes, water supply networks, schools, religious schools, mosques, and health centers are urgent needs of the returnees.

Abdul Rahman Habib, the ministry’s spokesperson, said: “To facilitate the returnees, actions have been taken by UN agencies, local and international organizations, charities, industrial and trade unions, and various professional associations to gather aid and coordinate meetings. So far, many industrialists, traders, various unions, and charities are cooperating with the coordination committee.”

Previously, during a visit by Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul, the situation of Afghan migrants was one of the key topics discussed with Islamic Emirate officials.

Mass Return: Over 130,000 Afghan Migrants Repatriated from Pakistan, Iran
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After fleeing, Afghans who lived in Pakistan for decades feel ‘completely lost’ as they attempt to rebuild lives from nothing in Afghanistan

22 April 2025
Since April 1, more than 100,000 Afghans have been sent back to their country of origin, out of the around three million living in Pakistan
Since April 1, more than 100,000 Afghans have been sent back to their country of origin, out of the around three million living in Pakistan

Pushed out of Pakistan where she was born, Nazmine Khan’s first experience of her country, Afghanistan, was in a sweltering tent at a border camp.

“We never thought we would return to Afghanistan,” said the 15-year-old girl, who has little idea of what will become of her or her family, only that she is likely to have fewer freedoms.

“When our parents told us we had to leave, we cried,” Nazmine added.

Having nowhere to go in Afghanistan, she and six other family members shared a stifling tent in the Omari camp near the Torkham border point.

Islamabad, accusing Afghans of links to narcotics and “supporting terrorism”, announced a new campaign in March to expel hundreds of thousands of Afghans, with or without documents.

Many Afghans had lived in Pakistan for decades after fleeing successive wars and crises. But seeing their removal as inevitable, many did not wait to be arrested by Pakistani forces before leaving.

Since April 1, more than 100,000 Afghans have been sent back to their country of origin, according to Islamabad, out of the around three million the United Nations says are living in Pakistan.

Nazmine ‘s family fled Afghanistan in the 1960s. Her four brothers and sister were also born in Pakistan.

“In a few days we’ll look for a place to rent” in the border province of Nangarhar, where the family has roots, she told AFP, speaking in Pakistan’s commonly spoken tongue of Urdu, not knowing any Afghan languages.

In the family’s tent, there is little more than a cloth to lie on and a few cushions, but no mattress or blanket. Flies buzz under the tarpaulin as countless children in ragged clothes come and go.

‘Already suffering’ 

When it comes to her own future,  Nazmine feels “completely lost”, she said.

Having dropped out of school in Pakistan, the Taliban authorities’ ban on girls studying beyond primary school will hardly change the course of her life.

But from what little she heard about her country while living in eastern Pakistan’s Punjab, she knows that “here there are not the same freedoms”.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban authorities have imposed restrictions on women characterised by the UN as “gender apartheid”.

Women have been banned from universities, parks, gyms and beauty salons, and squeezed from many jobs.

“It is now a new life… for them, and they are starting this with very little utilities, belongings, cash, support,” said Ibrahim Humadi, programme lead for non-governmental group Islamic Relief, which has set up about 200 tents for returnees in the Omari camp.

Some stay longer than the three days offered on arrival, not knowing where to go with their meagre savings, he said.

“They also know that even in their area of return, the community will be welcoming them, will be supporting them… but they know also the community are already suffering from the situation in Afghanistan,” he added.

Around 85 percent of the Afghan population lives on less than one dollar a day, according to the UN Development Programme.

“We had never seen Afghanistan in our lives. We do not know if we can find work, so we are worried,” said Jalil Khan Mohamedin, 28, as he piled belongings — quilts, bed frames and fans — into a truck that will take the 16 members of his family to the capital Kabul, though nothing awaits them there.

‘Still don’t understand’ 

The Taliban authorities have said they are preparing towns specifically for returnees.

But at one site near Torkham, there is nothing more than cleared roads on a rocky plain.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says “greater clarity” is needed to ensure that the sites intended for returnees are “viable” in terms of basic infrastructure and services such as health and education.

It’s important that “returnees are making informed decisions and that their relocation to the townships is voluntary,” communications officer Avand Azeez Agha told AFP.

Looking dazed, Nazmine’s brother Dilawar still struggles to accept leaving Pakistan, where he was born 25 years ago.

His Pakistani wife did not want to follow him and asked for a divorce.

“When we crossed the border, we felt like going back, then after a day it felt fine,” said the former truck driver.

“We still don’t understand. We were only working.”

‘That is their country’ 

After decades of hosting millions of Afghan refugees, there is widespread support among the Pakistani public for the deportations.

“They eat here, live here, but are against us. Terrorism is coming from there (Afghanistan), and they should leave; that is their country. We did a lot for them,” Pervaiz Akhtar, a university teacher, told AFP at a market in the capital, Islamabad.

“Come with a valid visa, and then come and do business with us,” said Muhammad Shafiq, a 55-year-old businessman.

His views echo the Pakistani government, which for months has blamed rising violence in the border regions on “Afghan-backed perpetrators” and argued that the country can no longer support such a large migrant population.

However, analysts have said the deportation drive is political.

Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have soured since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

“The timing and manner of their deportation indicates it is part of Pakistan’s policy of mounting pressure on the Taliban,” Maleeha Lodhi, the former permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told AFP.

“This should have been done in a humane, voluntary and gradual way.

After fleeing, Afghans who lived in Pakistan for decades feel ‘completely lost’ as they attempt to rebuild lives from nothing in Afghanistan
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US Courts to review Afghan Immigration Cases, says White House

Khaama Press

The White House announced U.S. courts will individually review Afghan immigration cases as temporary protection status for many is ending soon.

Karoline Leavitt, White House spokesperson, announced that Afghan immigration cases in the United States will be reviewed by courts. The announcement, made during a press conference on April 22, emphasized that Afghan migrants who received temporary protected status during the Biden administration will soon see their protections end.

Leavitt clarified that Afghan individuals who entered the U.S. and applied for asylum will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the courts. This development follows the expiration of temporary protections that were granted during the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

She also noted that the President Donald Trump aims to organize and legalize the immigration process in the U.S., suggesting potential changes to how immigration cases, including those of Afghan refugees, are handled.

Fox News previously reported that the deportation of Afghan migrants could leave hundreds of Afghan Christians at risk of facing Taliban persecution. This situation has sparked concerns among religious leaders in the U.S. who have called on Trump to halt deportations until a clear solution for Afghan migrants is found.

In response to growing concerns, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked temporary protections for approximately 11,000 Afghan migrants, warning them of imminent deportation. This has created a sense of uncertainty for many, especially those fearing retaliation from the Taliban if they are sent back to Afghanistan.

The decision to end temporary protections for Afghan migrants marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy. While some are advocating for the protection of vulnerable groups, others see this as a necessary step toward reforming immigration systems. The growing tension surrounding Afghan deportations highlights the challenges faced by the U.S. government in addressing both humanitarian concerns and immigration laws.

As the legal process unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor how these cases are adjudicated and whether further protective measures will be implemented. The situation remains fluid, and the potential for policy shifts or legal challenges remains high. The U.S. government’s approach to Afghan migration will likely have long-lasting implications for both the Afghan diaspora and the broader immigration debate in the country.

US Courts to review Afghan Immigration Cases, says White House
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Afghan-American Named US Deputy Secretary for Afghanistan

She is tasked with leading US policy toward Afghanistan within this bureau.\

In the first political appointment related to Afghanistan by the Trump administration, Mary Kabir-Seraj Bechopping, an Afghan-American, was named Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

She is tasked with leading US policy toward Afghanistan within this bureau.

Prior to her, Thomas West served as the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, and Rina Amiri was appointed Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights.

Mary Kabir-Seraj, 33, was born in California, holds a Political Science degree from UCLA (2016), and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. She previously served as a Legal Advisor in the State Department and a Foreign Affairs Advisor in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Announcing her new role on LinkedIn, she wrote: “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asia at US Department of State!”

Her appointment has sparked discussion among Afghan political observers:

Sayed Abdullah Sadiq, political analyst: “If Ms. Kabir-Siraj wants to represent Afghans sincerely, she should visit Afghanistan and experience the realities on the ground. Coming from a royal Afghan family, it’s unclear how connected she is to ordinary people’s struggles.”

Wais Naseri, analyst: “The effectiveness of any dual-national appointee depends on their knowledge, experience, and the quality of advice they provide to US decision-makers.”

Tafsir Siyahposh, a women’s rights activist, criticized the past representatives’ lack of impact: “Had they truly represented Afghan women, the current crisis might have been avoided. Their work unfortunately failed to bring real change.”

This appointment marks a formal placement of Afghanistan affairs under the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the US State Department.

Afghan-American Named US Deputy Secretary for Afghanistan
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Islamic Emirate Cuts 1000s of Governmental Jobs

Mujahid described the reduction of positions as a natural measure, stating that these changes aim to improve operations and reduce bureaucracy.

The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, announced a reduction in positions across governmental institutions.

Mujahid described the reduction of positions as a natural measure, stating that these changes aim to improve operations and reduce bureaucracy.

According to documents obtained by TOLOnews, the Ministry of Education has eliminated 90,000 of its positions.

With this reduction, the ministry will now provide educational services with 299,684 positions.

Zabihullah Mujahid said: “Downsizing in government institutions is a natural matter. Authorities know what is in the nation’s best interest and implement accordingly. Some reductions have also occurred in military and civilian sectors to improve efficiency, reduce institutional inflation, and curb bureaucracy.”

Additionally, sources from the Ministry of Economy have confirmed that the ministry plans to reduce its workforce by 13%.

“In a situation where job opportunities in Afghanistan have drastically declined, reducing employees under such conditions increases economic pressure on the people. It is better for the government to also consider job creation strategies alongside downsizing so alternatives can be found,” said Mir Shakir Yaqubi, an economic analyst.

“Excessive reliance on government jobs can restrict economic dynamism. Hence, the Islamic Emirate should focus more on the private sector and implement supportive policies that allow it to grow, create job opportunities, and reduce poverty in the national economy,” said Seyar Quraishi, another economic analyst.

Although the exact number of reduced government employees has not yet been disclosed, reports suggest over 300,000 employees may be laid off, though this figure has not been officially confirmed.

Islamic Emirate Cuts 1000s of Governmental Jobs
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Islamic Emirate to Appoint Ambassador to Russia as Bilateral Ties Deepen

In this meeting, both sides emphasized expanding bilateral relations and starting a new phase of cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia.

The acting minister of foreign affairs, in a meeting with Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan, who visited Kabul, announced that the caretaker government will soon appoint a diplomat at the ambassadorial level to Moscow.

In this meeting, both sides emphasized expanding bilateral relations and starting a new phase of cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia.

Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said about this meeting: “Respected Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi thanked the Russian Federation for accepting a diplomat from the Islamic Emirate at the ambassadorial level in Russia and promised that the Afghan government will soon introduce a diplomat to Moscow at the ambassadorial level.”

Additionally, Zamir Kabulov announced a meeting to be held in May to establish a permanent bilateral commission between the two countries on the sidelines of the Kazan summit.

Idris Mohammadi Zazai, a political analyst, expressed: “Embassies should be reopened. Economic exhibitions should also be held here. We can now say that the relationship between Afghanistan and Russia has reached a point of interaction, and this point is moving toward the development of the economy, politics, and social relations.”

Muin Gul Samkani, another political analyst, stated: “Accepting an ambassador in Russia is not a new matter, as China has also done the same before. However, if an ambassador is appointed, it shows that relations are becoming more consolidated, though it may still be early to talk about formal recognition.”

Kabulov also met with Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Minister of Interior.

Abdul Matin Qani, spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior, wrote on X that in this meeting the two sides discussed security, economic, and trade cooperation, as well as strengthening bilateral relations.

Qani said: “Khalifa Sahib praised Moscow’s recent move regarding Afghanistan and considered it a significant step toward acknowledging Afghanistan’s political realities. Both parties also committed to expanding diplomatic relations to the embassy level and mutual security and trade engagement.”

Enayatullah Adel, a political analyst, commented: “In addition to engaging with Russia, relations should also be established with other countries so that the Islamic Emirate may gain recognition. Furthermore, broader interactions in economic, political, and cultural fields should be pursued in various ways.”

Kabulov’s trip to Kabul comes shortly after Russia’s Supreme Court suspended the designation of “Taliban” as a banned group in that country—an action that the Islamic Emirate welcomed.

Islamic Emirate to Appoint Ambassador to Russia as Bilateral Ties Deepen
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After a year of hostility, Pakistan and Afghanistan seek diplomatic reboot

.By 

Al Jazeera

Islamabad, Pakistan – When Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar landed in Kabul on April 19 for a daylong visit, it marked the first major trip by a senior Pakistani official to Afghanistan since February 2023.

Dar’s visit came just days after senior military and intelligence officials from both countries had met in Kabul for the first time since January 2024.

These meetings follow months of strained relations between the neighbours amid frequent border skirmishes, Pakistan’s decision to expel Afghan refugees, and repeated border closures that have disrupted business and trade.

Dar’s trip, say analysts, signals a willingness from both sides to reset ties through diplomacy.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar met Afghanistan’s interim foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. The two leaders held discussions on “security, trade, transit, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts”.

The statement from the Afghan Foreign Ministry, however, did not mention security concerns and focused on issues such as “situation of Afghan refugees, political relations, economic cooperation, trade, transit, large-scale joint projects, and other matters of mutual interest.”

“We have requested our hosts that we have to work together for the progress, betterment and peace and security of the region. For that, neither will we allow anyone to use our soil to conduct illicit activities in Afghanistan, nor will you allow anyone to use your soil,” Dar said.

Security concerns after 2021

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021 after the United States withdrew its troops, Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in violent attacks, particularly in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the southwestern province of Balochistan, both of which share borders with Afghanistan.

Islamabad has repeatedly alleged that Afghan soil is being used by armed groups, especially the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP, to launch attacks across the porous border.

Pakistan Taliban, founded in 2007, is ideologically aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan but operates independently. The Taliban has repeatedly rejected allegations that it allows its soil to be used for attacks against Pakistan, and has consistently denied any ties with the TTP.

Data from the Pak Institute For Peace Studies, an Islamabad-based conflict research organisation, shows that Pakistan experienced 521 attacks in 2024, a 70 percent increase from the previous year.

These incidents claimed 852 lives, a 23 percent rise, with 358 of those killed being law enforcement personnel. Most of the violence occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Once seen as a benefactor of the Taliban, Pakistan has cited the uptick in violence as the main reason for its crackdown on hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees, many of whom have lived in the country for decades.

Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, welcoming several waves of displaced people as conflict continued in the country.

Following the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent US invasion of Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans returned home. However, the Taliban’s dramatic return to power in August 2021 prompted another wave of displacement, with between 600,000 and 800,000 people seeking refuge in Pakistan.

Since the expulsion programme began in November 2023, nearly one million Afghan nationals have been forced to return, with the Pakistani government declaring that it would continue its repatriation drive.

Global rights organisations, as well as the Afghan government, have urged Pakistan to reconsider the decision and ensure the dignity of those being deported.

Revival of diplomatic ties?

Despite rising hostilities between the two countries, including Pakistani air attacks on Afghan soil in December that killed at least 46 people, analysts see Dar’s visit as “significant” and suggestive of a broader resumption of dialogue.

Iftikhar Firdous, co-founder of The Khorasan Diary, a portal that tracks regional security issues, pointed out that this was the highest-level visit from Pakistan to Kabul since former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s trip in November 2020.

“The visit by Dar included discussions on security, ease of business for traders, and continued conversations on cross-border issues,” Firdous told Al Jazeera.

The Islamabad-based analyst added that the recent meeting between military and intelligence officials indicates that backchannel efforts to resurrect diplomacy were under way even before Dar’s trip.

“It was not a start, but instead a culmination of the agenda to re-engage with Afghanistan and break the ice,” he said.

Amina Khan, director of the Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), said both sides appear to be looking for ways to accommodate each other’s concerns.

“For Pakistan, it is security, and for Kabul, it is trade. However, since both are intertwined, a comprehensive bilateral approach is needed. This trip appears to have initiated a dialogue. One will have to see if both sides can maintain the positive momentum,” she told Al Jazeera.

Khan added that Pakistan recognises the importance of Afghanistan to its own stability.

“Pakistan realises that, in order to achieve this, workable ties with Kabul are paramount, but at the same time it is pivotal for Kabul to address Pakistan’s security concerns emanating from the TTP,” she said.

A United Nations report [PDF] published in February concluded that the Taliban continued to provide logistical, operational and financial support to the TTP. It added that the armed group has set up new training centres in border regions near Pakistan.

In response, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Afghan government spokesperson, denied the allegation, calling it a “regular slander” against the country.

“The stance of the UN is misused. We call on the countries who are members of the UNSC but have good relations with Afghanistan to not allow the reputation of the organization to be harmed,” Mujahid said in February.

On the same page?

Khan of ISSI said the Taliban faces its own challenges while dealing with armed groups like the Pakistan Taliban.

“Pakistan understands the limitations of the Afghan Taliban in taking action against the TTP, who may very well join the ranks of so-called ISIS [ISIL] and take up arms against the government,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Taliban has stressed that the Afghan government is unhappy about the eviction of hundreds of thousands of Afghans by Pakistan.

Raising the issue of their forced repatriation in the meeting with Dar, Minister Muttaqi stressed the need for humane treatment and urged Pakistani authorities to protect the rights of Afghan nationals currently residing in Pakistan or returning from there.

The Pakistan Foreign Ministry statement, meanwhile, focused on the country’s security concerns.

“The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the paramount importance of addressing all pertinent issues, particularly those related to security and border management, in order to fully realise the potential for regional trade and connectivity,” the ministry’s statement read.

Still, Khan, the analyst, said she believes that Dar’s visit has broken the ice. Now, the key will be to “remain engaged” and pursue a holistic approach to bilateral relations, she said.

“While security is a crucial aspect, it should not be the sole focus. Other aspects, such as diplomatic, economic, and cultural cooperation, must also be considered to build a balanced and sustainable partnership,” Khan said.

Source: Al Jazeera
After a year of hostility, Pakistan and Afghanistan seek diplomatic reboot
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Afghanistan, Pakistan Discuss Bilateral Ties, Refugees, Transit

The main topics of discussion included political relations, the status of Afghan refugees, trade, and transit.

A Pakistani delegation led by Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan, visited Kabul and held talks with officials of the Islamic Emirate on four key issues.

The main topics of discussion included political relations, the status of Afghan refugees, trade, and transit.

Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, the chargé d’affaires of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Islamabad, told TOLOnews that the interim Afghan government assured the Pakistani side that it does not interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs and does not support opposition groups.

Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb said: “The officials of the Islamic Emirate clearly stated their position: they do not interfere in the internal affairs of any country, and no harm will come from Afghanistan. Those who oppose Pakistan have problems in their own country—we do not interfere or support them.”

Shakeeb added that during his one-day trip, Mohammad Ishaq Dar also pledged to address the problems of Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan.

According to Shakeeb, Afghan refugees are being expelled along with their personal assets.

“Pakistan should clarify its policy toward Afghan refugees to ensure their dignity and property are not harmed,” he said.

Experts also weighed in on the matter:

Political analyst Salim Paigir said: “Afghans generally do not interfere in any country’s internal affairs because they lack the economic, political, and military capacity. Our people live in poverty. Perhaps the Pakistanis have realized that Afghans are not and will not interfere, which is why these talks and understandings are moving forward.”

This visit took place on Saturday, when the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan led the delegation to Kabul. During meetings with the prime minister and acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, discussions focused on strengthening political, security, and economic cooperation.

Afghanistan, Pakistan Discuss Bilateral Ties, Refugees, Transit
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UNAMA Urges Inclusive Engagement with Islamic Emirate for Afghan Stability

According to her, the aim of this process is the full integration of Afghanistan into the international community.

Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said in Kabul that the UN is committed to supporting Afghanistan’s stability and development through a comprehensive and coordinated process with the Islamic Emirate.

According to her, the aim of this process is the full integration of Afghanistan into the international community and the adherence of the caretaker government to global commitments.

Roza Otunbayeva said: “The UN is committed to supporting Afghanistan’s stability and development through the proposed comprehensive approach aimed towards a more coherent, coordinated and structured engagement between the Taliban authorities and the international community. The objective of this process should be clear end state of an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbors fully reintegrated into the international community and meeting international obligations.”

The UNAMA chief also called the work of two task forces—on counter-narcotics and the private sector—crucial, and stressed the importance of active participation from all Central Asian countries.

“As part of this process, the work of the two task working groups of counter-narcotics and the private sector decided in Doha on first of July 2024, Doha, is growing work,” she said.

Najib Rahman Shamal, an international relations expert, said: “We hope that the current Afghan authorities will also facilitate greater international engagement, especially from the United Nations, which has once again reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Afghanistan.”

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly called on the United Nations to provide the necessary grounds for official engagement with the international community and to hand over Afghanistan’s permanent UN seat to the Islamic Emirate.

UNAMA Urges Inclusive Engagement with Islamic Emirate for Afghan Stability
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Trump administration orders some Afghan refugees to leave US within a week

AMU TV

A group of Afghans waiting for their flight at Kabul airport in August 2021 during the evacuation process. Photo: Shakibi Ibrahimi

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Trump administration has ordered some Afghan refugees who legally entered the United States after the Taliban takeover in 2021 to leave the country within a week or face detention and legal action, Newsweek reported Thursday, citing emails and local sources.

According to the report, the Department of Homeland Security has been sending “Notices of Termination of Parole” to Afghan nationals who had been admitted under humanitarian parole programs or other legal pathways. The notices warn recipients to voluntarily depart the country within seven days or face arrest and removal proceedings. US officials said the measures apply to individuals who no longer have a valid legal status to remain.

The move is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which he pledged would be the largest mass deportation operation in American history. Since taking office earlier this year, the administration has ramped up enforcement actions, including against Afghans who fled their country fearing Taliban persecution.

Among those who received the notices are Afghans residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, Newsweek reported. One asylum seeker, who spoke anonymously to local broadcaster WRAL, said returning to Afghanistan would be tantamount to “signing a suicide mission.”

The administration is also reportedly taking steps to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals, a designation that shielded tens of thousands from deportation and allowed them to work legally. TPS protections for Afghanistan are set to expire on May 20, and officials have indicated they do not intend to renew them.

Roughly 150,000 Afghans resettled in the United States between August 2021 and August 2024, according to congressional figures.

Refugee advocates and immigration experts have criticized the administration’s moves. Shawn VanDiver, executive director of AfghanEvac, told NPR this week: “Ending temporary protected status for Afghans isn’t just cold, it’s cowardly. We promised them safety. Now we’re pulling the rug out from under them.”

Julia Gelatt, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, warned that revoking TPS would flood the already backlogged asylum system. “Most Afghans in the US have strong asylum claims based on their ties to the United States. For Afghan women especially, losing TPS would be devastating,” she told The New York Times.

A senior DHS official told Newsweek that the recent notices were sent primarily to parolees who had failed to adjust their immigration status after arrival. It remains unclear how many Afghans have left the country following receipt of the notices.

Trump administration orders some Afghan refugees to leave US within a week
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