Around 12,000 Afghans Imprisoned Abroad, Says Taliban Refugees Ministry

In an interview with Euronews, President Mirziyoyev responded to questions about Uzbekistan’s active diplomatic and economic engagement with the Taliban, distinguishing his country’s approach from that of many others which have remained hesitant or distant.

“Uzbekistan’s approach to Afghanistan has always been pragmatic and strategically oriented toward the long term,” he said. “We have never isolated or turned away from our neighbour.”

He noted that many who initially opposed Tashkent’s stance on engaging with the Taliban have since come to recognise its validity.

Mirziyoyev stressed that the development and stability of Afghanistan are impossible without constructive collaboration with its neighbours. He also stated that he had long doubted the sustainability of the previous Afghan government, citing its lack of control over the entire country, failure to engage with opposition forces, absence of an inclusive political framework, and widespread corruption.

The Uzbek president acknowledged the Taliban’s efforts in bringing a degree of stability to Afghanistan and in directing national resources toward infrastructure development, including the construction of airports, railway networks, and improvements in water and energy infrastructure. He also pointed to a reduction in drug cultivation and production as another area of progress.

“Afghanistan should be viewed through the lens of emerging strategic opportunities,” Mirziyoyev said. “It is critically important to integrate Afghanistan into global economic processes, including through the implementation of infrastructure projects on its territory.”

He reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s willingness to work with the European Union and other international partners to promote a constructive agenda aimed at supporting Afghanistan’s recovery.

“I am convinced that stabilising the situation in Afghanistan and supporting its reconstruction are in the common interests of Central Asian countries and the European Union,” he added.

PHR conducted medical and legal evaluations in February of 27 individuals deported from the US to Panama, using the internationally recognised Istanbul Protocol to assess evidence of torture and persecution.

In findings published on Monday, PHR reported that several of the Afghan deportees had previously fled Taliban persecution or had converted from Islam to Christianity while in Iran—putting them at grave risk if repatriated to Afghanistan. The group also included human rights defenders, former military personnel, LGBTQ+ individuals, and political activists from countries including Afghanistan, Cameroon, China, Eritrea, Iran, and Russia.

The evaluations were carried out by four physicians and a psychologist. According to the report, the individuals exhibited psychological symptoms consistent with their accounts of torture, mistreatment, and persecution. Many displayed signs of acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and some had visible scars and injuries aligning with their testimonies.

Michele Heisler, Medical Director at PHR, said: “Most of the people we evaluated in Panama showed clear symptoms of acute stress disorder or PTSD consistent with their accounts of torture and ill-treatment. Some also showed scars and injuries consistent with what they reported.”

Heisler further noted that none of the individuals had been given an opportunity to explain to US or Panamanian authorities the reasons for fleeing their home countries or the specific threats they face if returned.

Among the expenditures was a payment of $132,000 to Mohammad Qasem Halimi—a former Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs in the previous Afghan government and a former member of the Taliban.

In a statement published on the social media platform X on Tuesday, 1 April, DOGE did not disclose the purpose of the payment or how the funds were used by Halimi. He was also identified as having served as the chief of protocol for the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry during its first regime.

The Department of Government Efficiency was established by former President Donald Trump with the mandate to streamline and reduce the size of the federal government. Since returning to office in January 2025, the Trump administration has suspended all foreign aid, including projects funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), for a 90-day review period. The move has resulted in the cancellation of numerous US-backed programmes.

According to DOGE, the US Institute of Peace received an annual allocation of $55 million from Congress, which the previous administration allegedly spent without sufficient oversight. The department claims that roughly $13 million was transferred to a private endowment, largely used for travel and private events.

In addition to the payment to Halimi, DOGE reported that more than $2.23 million was moved to the institute’s foreign accounts—information the agency says had been deleted but has now been recovered. It also cited further questionable expenditures, including $1.3 million to an Iraqi youth association and $675,000 on private aviation services.

He also warned that individuals linked to the Afghan Taliban and Indian intelligence operatives operating within Pakistan would face firm and decisive action from Islamabad.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, 1 April, Sanaullah stressed that the Pakistani government would no longer tolerate terrorist activity on its soil.

Islamabad has long accused the Taliban of harbouring militants from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and has recently suggested that the group is working in coordination with Indian intelligence to destabilise Pakistan.

Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have escalated in recent months, particularly over the Taliban’s alleged ties with the TTP and growing diplomatic engagement with India.

Following a recent attack on the Jaffar Express train in Balochistan by Baloch militants, Pakistani officials claimed that the hostage-takers had direct links to individuals based in Afghanistan, implicating the Taliban in the planning of the assault.

Pakistan also accused India of being involved in the attack, though both the Afghan Taliban and the Indian government have firmly denied the allegations.

This development comes amid conflicting reports in recent days. The Associated Press, citing official documents, had reported that the arrests and deportations were postponed until 10 April due to the Eid al-Fitr holidays. However, Geo News claims the deportation process is proceeding as originally scheduled.

According to the report, on 26 March, Pakistan’s federal government also asked the provincial authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to submit updated information on Afghan students as part of its broader effort to strengthen the database of foreign nationals residing in the country.

The Pakistani government had given undocumented Afghan migrants and holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACCs) until 31 March to leave the country voluntarily. Officials have now warned that forced deportations of both groups will begin today.

The decision to proceed with deportations comes despite ongoing uncertainty and contradictory statements from various government bodies. On Monday, Dawn newspaper reported that the police chief of Rawalpindi had issued orders for the expulsion of undocumented Afghan nationals. Meanwhile, the Associated Press continued to report that the deportation deadline had been delayed until after Eid.

Pakistan has announced plans to deport up to three million Afghan nationals in 2024. Since September 2023, nearly one million have already been expelled.

According to data from the UNHCR, there are currently 1.52 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan, around 800,000 of whom hold ACCs. In addition to these, thousands of undocumented Afghan nationals remain in the country.

The government has stated that both undocumented migrants and ACC holders will be removed in this phase of deportations. Furthermore, Pakistani authorities have declared that Afghan refugees with UN-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards will also face deportation after 30 June 2025.

The mass deportation campaign has drawn strong criticism from the Taliban, the United Nations, human rights organisations, and refugee advocacy groups. It remains unclear whether Pakistan will fully implement the deportation plans or extend the deadline once again.