Trump-Era Policy Shift Paves Way For Afghan Deportations As US Ends TPS Protection

According to sources cited by The Express Tribune, the Pakistani envoy’s visit to Kabul aimed at securing peace along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and was deemed successful.

As hostilities between New Delhi and Islamabad intensified, both Pakistan’s and China’s special envoys travelled to Kabul for high-level discussions. The envoys met with key Taliban leaders including Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister; Sirajuddin Haqqani, Minister of Interior; and Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce.

During the meetings, Haqqani underscored the significance of strengthening regional ties, stating that from Kabul’s perspective, progress in political and economic relations, as well as regional understanding, is possible only through mutual respect and constructive engagement.

Sources said that Haqqani gave firm assurances to both Chinese and Pakistani envoys that Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan would remain peaceful. The Taliban’s Foreign Minister also pledged continued support for Islamabad amid the heightened regional tensions.

With India launching strikes on Pakistani territory following a deadly militant attack in Kashmir that left 26 Indian nationals dead, Pakistan has shifted its military focus squarely towards its eastern frontier. At the same time, it remains engaged in fighting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and Baloch separatists. Islamabad has accused the Afghan Taliban of harbouring and supporting these groups allegedly in alignment with India, claims the Taliban strongly deny.

The Taliban have reiterated that Afghan soil will not be used against any neighbouring or regional country.

Sadiq Khan’s visit to Kabul came amid growing concern in Islamabad over potential threats from Afghanistan, especially after the Taliban issued an unusual condemnation of the Kashmir militant attack. Despite long-standing ties with groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and the Majid Brigade, the Taliban refrained from condemning India’s retaliatory strikes and instead called for negotiation and dialogue to de-escalate the crisis.

He also highlighted the rising production of methamphetamine in the country, revealing that around 40 tonnes of various types of this drug were seized in Iran last year.

Zolfaghari made these remarks during a meeting on Monday, 22 April, with Tamaki Tsukada, Japan’s ambassador to Iran, where they discussed strategies to combat drug trafficking.

During the meeting, Zolfaghari stressed that the fight against drugs transcends borders, but he noted that many countries have yet to show sufficient commitment to the cause. "All countries must work together to address this issue," he stated.

He expressed concern over the entry of precursor chemicals from the West into Afghanistan and the rising production of methamphetamine there, describing the situation as "extremely complex." Zolfaghari added, "The more we can sever the connections between the producers of psychoactive substances and the countries involved in producing methamphetamine and other drugs, the more successful we will be."

The Iranian official also raised concerns about Western countries’ approach to dealing with drug traffickers in Iran, noting that strong measures against drug smugglers are often seen as human rights violations.

Zolfaghari emphasised that other nations should recognise Iran’s ongoing efforts in tackling the global drug trade.

Previously, Iranian officials had warned that the production of synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine and "crystal meth," in Afghanistan has been steadily increasing.

French officials have also raised alarms, warning that Afghanistan is becoming a major centre for methamphetamine production, rivaling Southeast Asia and Central Europe. They also expressed concerns over the growing smuggling of methamphetamine produced in both Afghanistan and Türkiye.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the AFF claimed that the UN’s new framework appears aimed at “whitewashing the Taliban” and would hinder prospects for lasting peace by excluding significant political groups from the process. The group warned that the plan could deepen divisions and repeat the failures of past peace efforts, including the 2001 Bonn Conference.

The UN framework reportedly centres on three main pillars: the formation of an inclusive government, efforts to combat terrorist networks, and the promotion of human rights including the reopening of schools and universities, and the creation of safe working environments for women.

The AFF took particular issue with the narrowing of political engagement to the Doha Process, the “illegitimate Taliban emirate,” and selected representatives of civil society. It argued that such a limited approach undermines the potential for achieving a broad-based and legitimate resolution to Afghanistan’s crisis.

To date, the UN has not held formal talks with Afghan opposition groups such as the AFF or the National Resistance Front (NRF), choosing instead to engage solely with the Taliban. This has drawn criticism from groups who say the UN is sidelining meaningful opposition voices.

The Taliban, for its part, has refused to attend previous UN-hosted summits due to the inclusion of civil society and political opposition groups, insisting that it alone represents Afghanistan in international forums.

The AFF also condemned the Taliban’s stance on elections, its alleged human rights violations, and its reported ties to international terrorist groups. It argued that current peace initiatives especially those based on the Doha framework fail to reflect Afghanistan’s complex political and social realities.

The group warned that any effort to engage with the Taliban while excluding other stakeholders will be ineffective and unsustainable. It called for any normalisation of relations with the Taliban to be made conditional on a series of benchmarks: respect for human rights, the immediate reversal of bans on women’s education and employment, the formation of an inclusive government, and the development of a transitional roadmap leading to a legitimate, elected administration with fair ethnic representation.

The AFF also urged the appointment of a United Nations Special Coordinator for Afghanistan, as mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 2127.

The Taliban has rejected this proposal, claiming that the current UN mission in Afghanistan is adequate and that no additional envoy is necessary.

According to the ministry, more than 300000 students have enrolled in these institutions during this period. State-run television, now under Taliban control, reported that 22972 religious seminaries have been established since 2021, with over 216000 male and approximately 91000 female students currently studying at these centres.

The ministry also stated that, under orders from Taliban supreme leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, 420 dormitories were established during the fiscal year 2024–2025 across various provinces. These facilities are reportedly housing more than 21,000 madrasa students.

Based on official data, a total of 1999734 boys and 1489449 girls have been registered in these educational institutions over the past three years.

However, the rapid expansion of Islamic education has raised concerns among analysts and education experts, who warn that such growth may contribute to the spread of the Taliban’s ideological agenda and fuel radicalisation.

This development comes against the backdrop of the Taliban’s continued ban on girls attending secondary schools and universities, a policy in place since their return to power in 2021, which has left thousands of girls without access to formal education.

In a statement broadcast on Monday, via state-run Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), which is now under Taliban control, ministry spokesperson Saif-ul-Islam Khyber declared that no individual or institution is permitted to use social media platforms in ways the group deems inappropriate.

“Social media should be used to disseminate verified news, promote religious and contemporary sciences, foster unity among the Muslim community, and encourage mutual respect,” the statement read. “It must not be a platform for promoting prejudice, disrespect, moral deviation, or intellectual distortion.”

The ministry further noted that it is actively monitoring online content and pursuing legal action against pages, accounts, and networks it accuses of undermining religious beliefs, public morality, and societal values.

The announcement comes amid continued activity by Afghan users posting content the Taliban considers religiously unacceptable or “illegitimate” under its strict interpretation of Islamic principles.