Ready To Support Afghanistan’s Future Without Interfering, Says Pak FM

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan made the remarks during a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, where he also confirmed that Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is expected to visit Pakistan, with dates to be announced soon.

During the Taliban’s first rule in the 1990s, Pakistan, along with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, formally recognised the group. However, none of these countries have extended official recognition to the Taliban since their return to power in August 2021. Current diplomatic engagement remains limited. Russia is the only country known to have recently recognised the Taliban administration.

Khan stated that talks with the Taliban leadership are ongoing, and discussions are focused on security cooperation. He also provided further details about the recent visit to Kabul by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who held meetings with senior Taliban officials.

Key topics during those meetings included cross-border security and the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of allowing TTP fighters to operate from Afghan soil and launch attacks into Pakistan, an allegation the Taliban have consistently denied.

Khan said Taliban officials acknowledged Pakistan’s security concerns, though the group maintains that Islamabad is responsible for addressing its internal security challenges.

Tensions between the two sides have remained high in recent years, with frequent clashes between border forces in areas such as Torkham, Spin Boldak, and Dand Wa Patan.

Despite strained relations, diplomatic ties have advanced, with the Taliban recently upgrading their mission in Islamabad from chargé d’affaires to ambassadorial level. The move followed a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China, and the Taliban held in Beijing earlier this year.

The demonstrators carried photographs of migrants who recently died in Iran and chanted slogans such as “Afghan migrants are human too” and “Silence in the face of oppression is complicity.” Protesters condemned what they described as violent and discriminatory actions by certain Iranian institutions and citizens against Afghan nationals.

Organisers called on both Iran and Pakistan to ensure Afghan migrants are treated with dignity and respect. They also urged the United Nations to take immediate and practical steps to uphold the rights of Afghan migrants facing forced return.

The protesters expressed particular concern over deportations from Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, which they said are placing thousands of vulnerable Afghans at risk.

A similar demonstration was held a day earlier in Hamburg, Germany, where Afghan asylum seekers voiced opposition to increasing deportations of their compatriots from neighbouring countries.

The announcement followed a recent visit by Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, to Kabul, where he held talks with senior Taliban officials, including Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. Discussions focused on cross-border security, the threat posed by the TTP, and ongoing efforts to counter drug trafficking.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, said the Afghan Taliban were “receptive” to the concerns raised and that active engagement between the two sides was ongoing. He acknowledged that terrorist sanctuaries across the border remain one of the key stumbling blocks in bilateral relations.

Pakistani officials have described the Taliban’s latest position as offering cautious optimism on what remains one of the most contentious issues between the two governments.

Islamabad has long accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering TTP militants since the group’s return to power nearly four years ago. The breakdown of a brief ceasefire between the Pakistani government and TTP in November 2022 further escalated tensions. Authorities in Pakistan estimate that approximately 4,000 TTP fighters are currently active within Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials have warned that continued cross-border militancy could undermine diplomatic ties with the Taliban administration.

While Islamabad pushes for decisive action, the Afghan Taliban have consistently denied the presence of TTP or any other foreign terrorist groups on Afghan soil.

In a statement on Friday, Xiaoyong described the meeting on his X account as “very good” and noted that it followed recent trilateral talks involving the foreign ministers of China, the Taliban, and Pakistan. Those discussions focused on enhancing cooperation among neighbouring countries and fostering broader international engagement for Afghanistan’s recovery.

According to a press release from the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides discussed strengthening bilateral ties based on political relations, economic collaboration, and mutual interests. The Chinese envoy reportedly reiterated Beijing’s commitment to continued political and economic support for Afghanistan under the principle of good neighbourliness.

The trilateral meeting, held in Beijing in May, marked a notable step in regional diplomacy. Following the talks, the Taliban and Pakistan upgraded their diplomatic relations to the ambassadorial level.

While nearly four years have passed since the Taliban took power in August 2021, no country other than Russia has officially recognised the group as Afghanistan’s legitimate government. However, China remains one of the Taliban’s closest international partners.

Beijing has consistently called for the easing of international sanctions on the Taliban and has supported broader diplomatic engagement.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE said it has hosted more than 17,000 Afghan migrants in Abu Dhabi since 2021 and spent nearly 1.35 billion dirhams (approximately USD 367 million) on hosting and relocating them to third countries.

The ministry emphasised that Afghan refugees have been provided with comprehensive services at Abu Dhabi’s Humanitarian City, including healthcare, education, housing, food, and logistical and diplomatic support. The statement did not address claims regarding the potential deportation of Afghan nationals still awaiting resettlement.

Concerns were raised after the media outlet Just the News reported that UAE authorities were preparing to transfer some Afghan refugees to the Taliban. US President Donald Trump responded to the report on 20 July via his social media platform, Truth Social, stating his intention to intervene on behalf of the refugees.

The UAE-based newspaper The National also reported that the foreign ministry reiterated its ongoing humanitarian support and the dignified treatment of Afghan migrants in the country.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, thousands of Afghans were evacuated to the UAE on US and NATO military flights. Many have since been awaiting resettlement to the United States, Canada, and European nations.

Afghan refugees in the UAE have repeatedly voiced frustration over their prolonged and uncertain status, urging Western governments, particularly the United States, to expedite relocation processes.

During his presidency, Trump ended the large-scale resettlement programme for Afghan allies and their families and revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals. As a result, over 14,000 Afghans who entered the United States irregularly remain at risk of deportation.