US President Trump Imposes 10 Percent Tariff On Afghan Imports

He outlined how disputes over the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), girls’ education bans, Pakistan relations, and governance are driving the divide.

Haqqani Network and TTP Ties

Haq highlighted the Haqqani Network’s historical links to North Waziristan and Pakistan’s tribal areas, noting their role in hosting TTP during the Taliban’s fight against foreign and Afghan forces, with backing from Pakistan and the ISI. However, he argued the Haqqanis remain distinct within the Taliban: “Loya Paktia under Haqqani control was never forcibly integrated into the Kandahar-dominated Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA). Instead, they partnered with the IEA, retaining autonomy.”

He contrasted the Haqqanis’ pragmatic outlook—forged since the Soviet war and open to engagement with Pakistan, the ISI, and the US—with Kandahar’s more rigid stance.

TTP Dispute

The general explained that Kandahar views TTP as a destabilising force threatening Kabul-Pakistan ties, yet lacks the will or ability to curb it due to Haqqani influence. Conversely, the Haqqanis see TTP as a “reserve force” for potential internal conflicts. Haq linked Sirajuddin Haqqani’s recent absence and foreign trips to his frustration with Kandahar, writing: “While keen to address TTP issues with Pakistan, the Haqqanis are unwilling to relinquish TTP’s military potential.”

Taliban Unity at Risk

The Express Tribune, seen as aligned with Pakistan’s military, noted that maintaining Taliban cohesion is increasingly difficult. During Sirajuddin Haqqani’s absence, Kandahar deployed forces to Haqqani-controlled border regions, asserting dominance. Meanwhile, the Haqqanis pursue independent ties with regional and Western nations, risking further estrangement from Kandahar.

Pakistan’s Strategy

Haq recommended a multi-pronged approach for Pakistan: sustained religious diplomacy with Kandahar, international efforts under the Doha Agreement, discreet military action on both sides of the border, a firm domestic anti-terrorism stance, and an exit route for the Haqqanis from their predicament.

Future Warning

He cautioned that unresolved TTP tensions could exhaust Pakistan’s patience, destabilising the region. Haq hinted at a potential anti-Taliban coalition of ex-mujahideen, disaffected Taliban members, and remnants of the prior Afghan government, warning: “Kabul may witness another power shift.”

The forced deportation deadline, originally set for March 31, was extended by two days due to Eid al-Fitr.

An official from the Afghan Commissionerate in Peshawar city told Dawn on Thursday: “Phase 2 will commence from [Thursday], and we have set up camps, one each at Landi Kotal and Nasir Bagh Road.” The Afghan Commissionerate, a Pakistani government body tasked with managing Afghan refugees, confirmed the launch of this phase amid conflicting reports about whether deportations would proceed or if the deadline had been further delayed.

Pakistan previously mandated that undocumented Afghan migrants and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders voluntarily return to Afghanistan by 1 April. That deadline lapsed three days ago. While the Associated Press reported a 10-day extension due to Eid al-Fitr, Pakistani media over the past two days have indicated deportations are underway. Since September 2023, Pakistan has expelled nearly one million Afghan migrants.

UNHCR statistics show 1.52 million registered Afghan refugees and migrants remain in Pakistan, including roughly 800,000 ACC holders, alongside thousands of undocumented Afghans. The government plans to deport both groups in this phase, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the Taliban, the United Nations, human rights organisations, and refugee advocates. Uncertainty persists over whether Pakistan will fully implement or delay this policy.

Additionally, the government has announced that Afghan migrants with UN-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards will face deportation after 30 June this year.

The discussion focused on enforcing measures following the deadline for Afghan refugees to depart Pakistan.

According to the Express Tribune, officials reiterated that legal action would target those staying in violation of government policies. Senior Pakistani leaders have consistently underscored their resolve to deport Afghan refugees, a topic revisited during Wednesday’s meeting between Sharif and Naqvi.

The Express Tribune reported that Sharif praised security agencies for upholding law and order, though his position on deporting Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders remained unspecified. The original 31 March deadline for Afghan refugee deportations was postponed due to Eid al-Fitr.

A Pakistani official confirmed the deadline has now been extended to early next week, after which the deportation of approximately 800,000 ACC holders, as estimated by the UN, will commence.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, 2 April, the Afghan women-led protest group called for global solidarity to support those affected.

“Millions of girls are denied education, barred from schools and universities, while countless women are stripped of their right to work and live freely,” the statement declared. “Afghan women are confined to their homes, trapped in fear, oppression, and despair.”

The movement also drew attention to the wider impact of these restrictions, noting a surge in mental health struggles, depression, and hopelessness among Afghan women and girls due to the persistent denial of basic rights. “With global solidarity and a united voice of protest, we can stand with Afghan women,” it urged. “This is not merely a moral obligation but a shared responsibility for us all.”

Despite sustained efforts by the Purple Saturdays Movement and international criticism, the Taliban has shown no sign of relaxing its policies nearly four years after seizing power. Afghan women and girls remain excluded from education beyond the sixth grade and prohibited from attending universities, with no policy shift in sight.

Speaking to Taliban-run Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), Khamoosh said the registration process for these groups is expected to conclude by the end of March 2026.

The ministry accused the previous Afghan government of enrolling thousands of “fictitious” individuals as disabled or widowed, claiming these have now been removed from the list of beneficiaries. Some families of former Afghan government military personnel previously told Afghanistan International that their monthly financial aid from the ministry was halted after the Taliban’s takeover.

In November 2024, the Taliban’s Ministry of Martyrs reported distributing 10.17 billion Afghanis to orphans, disabled individuals, and widows. However, it remains unclear whether this aid extends to families of security forces or victims of suicide attacks from the prior administration.

On Tuesday, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told RTA that since seizing power, the group has prioritised support for families of its suicide attackers. He revealed that 12 billion Afghanis—equivalent to the budget of two or three ministries—had been allocated through the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled to assist the orphans and widows of these fighters.