The Taliban has accused Pakistan of damaging bilateral relations through the harassment, abuse, and forced expulsion of Afghan migrants, as voiced by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi during a visit to the Torkham border crossing on Thursday.
Hanafi urged Pakistani leaders, religious figures, and citizens to halt what he described as an “injustice” against Afghan migrants.
Accompanied by senior Taliban officials, Hanafi, who leads the Taliban’s commission on migrant issues, inspected facilities at Torkham, a key border point. The delegation announced the establishment of “Qasimabad,” a new settlement designed to house up to 4,000 returning migrant families on approximately 3,000 acres of land.
The Taliban called on international organisations and Afghan traders to support those returning from Pakistan, while pressing neighbouring countries to cease the “forced and improper expulsion” of Afghan migrants.
The statements follow Pakistan’s intensified crackdown on Afghan migrants after the expiry of a voluntary return deadline on 31 March 2025. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Thursday that over 24,000 Afghan refugees were expelled from Pakistan in a single week.
Reports suggest heightened pressure, including detentions and police harassment, has driven many Afghans to leave Pakistan preemptively.
The Taliban’s remarks underscore growing tensions with Islamabad, as the expulsions strain diplomatic ties and exacerbate the challenges faced by returning migrants.
The group’s appeal for cooperation highlights the scale of the crisis, with thousands of Afghans displaced amid limited resources to support their reintegration.
