Pakistan Engages In Talks With US On Resumption Of Afghan Refugee Transfers
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed optimism regarding the resumption of the transfer process for eligible Afghan refugees to the United States.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed optimism regarding the resumption of the transfer process for eligible Afghan refugees to the United States.
Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan confirmed on Thursday that discussions on the matter are ongoing between Islamabad and Washington.
However, the spokesperson did not provide further details on the nature or progress of the discussions with American officials.
The refugee transfer programme was suspended following the election of Donald Trump as US President and the subsequent executive order halting the country's refugee admissions. As a result, thousands of eligible Afghan refugees remain in limbo in third countries such as Pakistan, Qatar, and Albania.
Many of these refugees have expressed concerns regarding their safety, citing their past cooperation with US institutions in Afghanistan over the past two decades. They fear retribution from the Taliban and have been awaiting relocation under the US refugee programme.
According to reports, approximately 15,000 eligible Afghan refugees are currently in Pakistan, 3,000 in Qatar, and another 500 in Albania, awaiting their transfer to the United States.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously announced that, under an agreement between Washington and Islamabad, the transfer of these refugees was expected to be completed by September 2025. Despite the suspension of the programme by the Trump administration, the ministry maintains that the agreement remains in effect.
