Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister, has expressed strong concern over the forced deportation and reported mistreatment of Afghan migrants by Pakistani authorities, describing the actions as “provocative” and harmful to bilateral relations.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi raised the issue during a meeting with Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul.
Muttaqi criticised the "inappropriate" treatment of Afghan migrants by certain elements within Pakistan, stating that such behaviour is detrimental to the relationship between the two neighbouring countries. He called for a fundamental change in the current approach to Afghan migrants residing in Pakistan.
In response, Nizamani reportedly assured Muttaqi that Islamabad understands the concerns raised by the Taliban and pledged to convey the matter to the relevant authorities in Pakistan.
The two officials also discussed broader political and economic issues affecting bilateral ties, the statement noted.
Pakistan initiated the second phase of its migrant deportation campaign at the beginning of April. According to The Express Tribune, since the start of this renewed effort, at least 33,258 Afghan nationals have been expelled via the Torkham border crossing.
There have been increasing reports in recent weeks of Afghan migrants facing mistreatment by Pakistani police, adding to the tensions surrounding the mass deportations.
