Pakistan Victim Of Terrorism It Once Fostered In Afghanistan, Says Indian FM

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the meeting will address “resolving potential disputes along the Durand Line and facilitating ease for the people on both sides.” He noted that these meetings are held alternately in Islamabad and Kabul.

According to Mujahid, the Pakistani delegation will be led by Mohammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, while the Taliban delegation will be headed by Abdul Qayyum Zakir, the group’s Deputy Minister of Defence.

Sadiq Khan arrived in Kabul on the morning of Wednesday, 16 April, leading a high-level Pakistani delegation. Diplomatic sources confirmed to Afghanistan International that the visit is scheduled to be a one-day trip.

This meeting comes amid heightened tensions between the two sides. Pakistan has accused the Taliban of allowing Afghan territory to be used as a base for attacks against it, while the Taliban have, in turn, alleged that Pakistan is supporting ISIS by harbouring, training, and equipping its fighters.

In December 2024, Taliban Defence Ministry spokesperson Inayatullah Khwarizmi declared that the group does not recognise Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as part of Pakistan. The ministry also confirmed at the time that it had launched attacks across the “so-called Durand Line.”

According to a statement released on Tuesday, Otunbayeva met with Taliban Deputy Governor Inamullah Salahuddin and condemned Pakistan’s forced deportation of Afghan migrants. The statement quoted Otunbayeva as saying: “We condemn Pakistan’s actions, which forcibly expel Afghan migrants in violation of all principles.”

The Taliban also claimed that Otunbayeva pledged UNAMA’s support in mobilising international assistance for small businesses, education, agriculture, and essential services for returning migrants.

During the meeting, Salahuddin reiterated the Taliban’s interest in engaging with the international community in areas such as trade and development. He urged UNAMA to help convey to the world that Afghanistan is “on a path to stability and progress.”

As of now, Otunbayeva has not publicly commented on the visit.

The letter, endorsed by 44 movements, organisations, councils, associations, and cultural and social groups dedicated to supporting women, migrants, and other vulnerable populations, urges immediate action to halt these deportations.

The signatories highlight that Pakistan and Iran are deporting Afghan migrants without assessing their individual circumstances, a practice they argue violates the international obligations of both nations and fundamental human rights principles.

Field reports and documentation cited in the letter indicate that these deportations disproportionately affect high-risk groups, including former military personnel and security forces of Afghanistan’s previous government, women activists, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society leaders, religious and ethnic minorities, and unaccompanied or orphaned children.

The letter warns that forcibly returned individuals face severe risks in Afghanistan, including identification, arrest, torture, disappearance, execution, or extrajudicial punishment by the Taliban. It further underscores the dire situation for women and girls in Afghanistan, where Taliban-imposed restrictions exacerbate vulnerabilities. The forced return of women, the letter states, constitutes a grave breach of human rights, amounting to psychological torture and gender-based violence.

The coalition calls on international institutions and member states to establish emergency resettlement mechanisms, formalise the legal status of Afghan migrants, and hold relevant agencies—particularly the UN Refugee Agency—accountable for ending forced deportations. The letter stresses the urgent need for coordinated global action to protect Afghan migrants and uphold their rights.

The organisation strongly condemned the treatment of refugees and journalists by Pakistani authorities, describing it as a threat to freedom of expression. It called for Sadaat’s immediate release and raised alarm over the worsening conditions Afghan journalists face in Pakistan.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, AJSO expressed deep concern over the increasing risk of arrest for Afghan journalists residing in Pakistan, particularly those without legal documentation.

According to reports, Pakistani police detained Sadaat at her residence in Islamabad on Monday evening. She had previously worked as a reporter for Radio Bahar in Kapisa province and had fled to Pakistan to escape Taliban threats. Her family told Afghanistan International that Sadaat does not possess valid residency documents but had already secured a visa to travel to France. They warned that deporting her to Afghanistan could place her at serious risk of arrest by the Taliban.

“Such actions further deteriorate the current situation of Afghan journalists,” AJSO stated. “These are individuals who fled their country due to threats and restrictions imposed by the Taliban and are now facing insecurity, legal challenges, and unjust treatment in third countries.”

The organisation has urged embassies and international institutions to expedite the processing of Afghan journalists’ cases and to expand support programmes to assist those at risk.

The charity reported that returnees are arriving in Afghanistan without access to shelter, food, clean water, or cash. Many have been forced to abandon all possessions during their expulsion from Pakistan.

“Many are arriving in Afghanistan without any shelter, food, cash or water, and families told us they had to leave all their possessions – including animals and household utensils – behind as they cannot afford to bring them,” the statement read.

Islamic Relief’s assessment team, which visited the Torkham border crossing, noted a sharp deterioration in support services compared to previous waves of deportations. Basic humanitarian assistance that was once available is now absent, the group said.

Ramin Sadat, a staff member with Islamic Relief, described the current situation as unprecedented.

“I have previously covered the 2023 and 2024 returnee influx, but this new wave is unlike anything I’ve seen before. People arrive in droves, covered in dust, crammed onto trucks, and facing a barren border with no basic services in sight. The first thing that greets them is a harsh, windy storm swirling with dust,” he said.

The statement highlighted the overcrowding of temporary camps and warned that the arrival of more deportees in the coming days will further strain already limited resources.

Islamic Relief also expressed concern over the timing of the crisis, noting that many humanitarian aid programmes have recently been scaled back due to declining international support.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 45,000 Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan in the past two weeks, with children accounting for 58 per cent of the returnees.

The charity has urged the international community to increase support for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan to prevent a worsening of the crisis.