Khalilzad Says Pakistan May Be Using Afghan Deportations To Transfer ISIS Fighters

Speaking at Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), Jaishankar asserted that Islamabad had long supported terrorism in the region, only to fall prey to the very extremist networks it once cultivated.

“Whatever benefits they were getting out of the double game also disappeared. Moreover, the very terrorism industry they had promoted came back to bite them,” he stated.

Jaishankar argued that Pakistan’s strategic miscalculations have left it isolated in Afghanistan, especially in light of increasing attacks by Pakistani militants on the country’s own security forces since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. This, he noted, came despite Islamabad’s decades-long backing of the Afghan Taliban against the former Western-supported government in Kabul.

The foreign minister also issued a pointed warning to Pakistan, cautioning that continued support for cross-border terrorism would bring “consequences.”

India and Pakistan have long accused each other of harbouring and supporting militant groups. In a notable shift, Pakistan has recently alleged that the Afghan Taliban — once seen as its close ally — is now cooperating with India.

Jaishankar highlighted what he described as a stark contrast between the two South Asian nations, framing India as a country advancing in economic and global stature, while portraying Pakistan as stuck in outdated policies of instability and proxy warfare.

“During this period, we have grown economically and politically, and our standing in the world has improved. But Pakistan continued the old playbook,” he said.

While Indian officials have typically maintained a cautious tone when discussing the Taliban, Jaishankar’s comments stand out as one of the clearest acknowledgements by a senior Indian leader that the group was a product of Pakistani patronage of terrorism.

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.