The Taliban has formed a "security committee" to safeguard Afghan migrants in Pakistan amid ongoing deportations and reports of mistreatment, Shir Mohammad Sharif, head of the group's Border Police within the Ministry of Interior, announced on Thursday.
Speaking to Taliban-controlled national television during a visit to the Torkham border crossing, Sharif said the committee aims to "prevent ill-treatment by Pakistani authorities towards Afghan migrants and address their concerns in Pakistan."
Sharif’s visit to Torkham, a key transit point, was intended to evaluate recent damages, assess the security situation, and review the plight of Afghan migrants expelled from Pakistan.
The move follows accounts of alleged abuses, with several Afghan children at the border telling Afghanistan International they were detained and imprisoned by Pakistani police without cause.
Pakistan’s immigration department reported that over the past week, 11,371 Afghan migrants were detained and deported. On Tuesday alone, 3,669 were sent back through Torkham, according to official figures.
The Express Tribune noted that Pakistan’s ongoing operation targets not only undocumented migrants but also asylum seekers and families linked to criminal activities for detention and deportation.
The Pakistani government’s plan to expel approximately three million Afghan migrants in 2025 has drawn sharp criticism from international organisations. Despite the backlash, authorities continue their crackdown, intensifying efforts to identify and remove Afghan nationals across the country.
