The Taliban’s Prime Minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, has called on Pakistan to immediately halt the mass deportation of Afghan migrants and instead work with Kabul on a coordinated and dignified repatriation process.
During a meeting on Saturday, 20 April, with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Kabul, Akhund criticised Islamabad’s unilateral approach, saying it had worsened the situation rather than contributing to a sustainable solution. He urged Pakistan, as a neighbouring Muslim country, to facilitate the return of Afghan migrants in a respectful manner, in accordance with Islamic principles and international law.
In a statement released by the Taliban-controlled Arg (Presidential Palace), Akhund assured the Pakistani delegation that Afghan soil would not be used to threaten the security of any neighbouring country.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a separate statement that Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction over the forced expulsion of Afghan nationals from Pakistan. Muttaqi reportedly pressed for an immediate end to rights violations against migrants.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry’s official statement, however, made no mention of the migrant issue. Instead, it stated that the discussions during Dar’s meetings with Akhund and Muttaqi focused on shared interests, including security, trade, transit cooperation, and people-to-people ties. Both sides agreed to continue high-level exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Mohammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, later wrote on social media platform X that the two foreign ministers had underlined the importance of addressing security challenges and improving border management, reaffirming their commitment to ongoing engagement at the highest levels.
The omission of the deportation issue in Pakistan’s official statements is notable, particularly as Dar’s visit came amid a renewed wave of forced deportations. According to figures released by the Taliban, over 4300 Afghan migrants were expelled from Pakistan just a day before the visit.
The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry also quoted Dar as pledging that Afghan migrants would not be mistreated and that Pakistan had taken “serious measures” to protect their rights and property. “The assets and belongings of Afghan migrants belong to them, and no one has the right to confiscate them,” he was quoted as saying.
Dar reportedly extended an invitation to Amir Khan Muttaqi to visit Islamabad. The two delegations also discussed enhancing diplomatic cooperation, expediting visa issuance, facilitating agricultural exports, boosting trade and transit links, and progressing major regional infrastructure initiatives, including the Afghan Trans fibre-optic project, CASA-1000, and the TAPI gas pipeline.
