Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, met with China’s envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, on Sunday to discuss regional developments and shared security concerns, particularly relating to Afghanistan.
Sadiq, who shared details and images of the meeting on social media, said the talks were held in Islamabad on 27 July. He described the discussions as candid and focused on the latest regional developments and urgent security threats.
The Pakistani envoy said he expressed deep concern over the threat posed by terrorist groups and reaffirmed both countries’ shared commitment to tackling these challenges. He emphasised that strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and China is vital for promoting regional stability and combating terrorism.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of providing support or shelter to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that has carried out deadly attacks on Pakistani soil. Islamabad views the TTP as a serious national security threat.
Pakistani officials have consistently stated that the future of their relationship with the Taliban depends on the group’s willingness to take concrete action against the TTP and prevent cross-border attacks originating from Afghan territory.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has expressed concern over the mass deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran, calling for a gradual process that respects their dignity.
The comments were made during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Sunday.
Muttaqi urged Iranian authorities to carry out deportations in a phased manner while ensuring humane treatment. In response, Araghchi reportedly assured that future deportations would be conducted gradually and with respect for human dignity.
Iranian officials recently announced that nearly 800,000 Afghan nationals have been expelled from the country in recent months. The pace of deportations has escalated significantly, raising concerns among Afghan and international observers.
In addition to the migrant issue, the two sides also discussed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Muttaqi described the situation in Gaza as dire and called on Islamic countries to fulfil their responsibilities by helping end what he characterised as collective suffering caused by famine and genocide by Israel. He stressed the need for urgent humanitarian intervention.
Araghchi, in turn, called for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss possible solutions to the Gaza crisis.
Since the start of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, approximately 60,000 people have been killed and over 144,000 injured, according to local sources. The conflict has caused extensive destruction and displaced millions.
International humanitarian agencies have warned of widespread famine and indiscriminate civilian casualties. Gaza’s Health Ministry recently reported that more than 125 people, including 85 children, have died as a result of malnutrition.
The suspension of visa renewals for Afghan migrants in Pakistan has triggered a wave of arrests in Islamabad, with police intensifying operations across the city.
On Sunday, officers raided the B-17 township, detaining several Afghan families, including women and children.
Residents reported that nearly all Afghan migrants in the area are at constant risk of arrest and deportation due to the lack of valid documentation.
One resident of B-17, using the pseudonym Mursal, told Afghanistan International’s Pashto service that police arrived early in the morning while families were having breakfast. Although officers did not enter her building, she said several families from a nearby block were taken into custody.
A day earlier, other Afghan migrants in Islamabad also reported arrests in the same area. The Afghan Council in Islamabad confirmed that police have detained large numbers of Afghan nationals over the past 11 days, primarily in neighbourhoods with high migrant populations.
Videos circulating on social media show children crying as police detain their mothers and family members. Despite the pleas, officers continued the arrests without interruption.
Refugee Rights Watch called the footage of Afghan women and young girls being detained in Pakistan deeply disturbing and said such treatment violates basic human dignity.
The visa renewal process for Afghan migrants has been suspended for nearly three weeks. Since the halt, police operations targeting undocumented Afghans have escalated significantly.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Taliban, and Iranian officials are set to hold a trilateral technical meeting in Kabul to discuss the situation of Afghan refugees and returnees, according to Taliban authorities.
Arafat Jamal, head of UNHCR in Afghanistan, met with Taliban Minister for Refugees Abdul Kabir in Kabul to discuss refugee-related issues. In a statement released Sunday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees said Jamal confirmed that Iranian officials had expressed readiness to take part in the upcoming meeting.
While no specific date for the meeting has been announced, Jamal said the trilateral talks would focus on the challenges faced by Afghan refugees residing in Iran and those returning to Afghanistan. He added that the meeting is expected to yield positive outcomes.
Jamal also noted that the United Nations is intensifying efforts to mobilise financial resources to support Afghan refugees and returnees. He said a separate multilateral conference aimed at securing international aid will be held soon in the Qatari capital.
During the meeting, Abdul Kabir emphasised the importance of international cooperation in addressing the needs and challenges of Afghan migrants.
Earlier, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visited Iran and met with Interior Minister Esmail Momeni. Grandi called for a joint session involving the Taliban and the Iranian government to discuss the situation of Afghan refugees.
The Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has announced the arrest of two individuals accused of translating and dubbing foreign television series containing what the group described as “Western content.”
A ministry spokesperson said the detainees were involved in activities that promoted Western culture and ideas. Saif al-Khyber al-Salam, spokesperson for the ministry, stated on Saturday that the individuals had also been in contact with foreign media outlets.
The Taliban released a video of one of the detainees, who claimed that a team of 30 people, comprising both men and women, was involved in the dubbing and translation of the series. In the video, the individual expressed remorse for his actions. It remains unclear under what circumstances the confession was recorded.
The ministry did not provide the exact date of the arrests. However, on Friday the ministry’s spokesperson said officials had also detained several production heads and shut down their offices.
In recent days, Taliban enforcers have reportedly detained hundreds of women across various districts in Kabul.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed broad restrictions on media and freedom of expression, including bans on foreign television programmes and music broadcast via visual media.
The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Taliban intelligence services maintain strict control over media content, often using threats and intimidation to influence or censor productions.
International press freedom and human rights organisations have condemned these actions as violations of fundamental rights and part of a broader effort to limit public access to information.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for a shift in the country’s foreign policy approach, urging stronger engagement with neighbouring states, particularly Afghanistan.
He said the Islamic Republic must reassess its regional relations and prioritise cooperation with its immediate neighbours.
Speaking on Saturday, during a meeting with staff at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pezeshkian said improving ties with countries such as Turkiye, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Gulf states should be a top priority. He stressed that resolving domestic challenges should be accompanied by strengthening external partnerships.
Pezeshkian said Iran could achieve major progress by reforming its relations with neighbouring countries and called for greater involvement from the private sector, academics, and cultural institutions in fostering regional cooperation.
According to the president’s office, Pezeshkian argued that with stronger ties in place, Iran would not need to worry about smaller issues, such as disputes over north-western border crossings. He urged reducing tensions and focusing on removing border barriers and creating deeper economic linkages.
Regional Integration and Border Closures
Pezeshkian questioned why regional countries could not pursue closer integration, drawing parallels to the European model, with open borders, and expanded economic collaboration.
His comments come amid the Islamic Republic’s ongoing efforts to fortify its eastern borders. A senior Iranian military official previously stated that 330 kilometres of Iran’s eastern border with Afghanistan would be sealed off by the end of 2024. Iran has allocated €3 billion to its armed forces for this effort.
In the wake of a recent 12-day conflict with Israel, Iran has also stepped up deportations of Afghan nationals, removing tens of thousands of migrants daily. The mass deportations have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, prompting warnings from the United Nations of a looming catastrophe.
Reports have emerged of Iranian police tearing up the passports of Afghan nationals with valid visas, as well as instances of violent arrests and forced deportations.
Afghan Migrants in Iran
Pezeshkian said he had instructed Iran’s interior minister to ensure that Afghan migrants are treated with care and that no administrative negligence results in negative perceptions among Afghan nationals. He described Afghans as “brothers and sisters,” highlighting shared language, history, faith, and culture.
The Sunday Times recently reported that Iran has launched one of the largest mass expulsions in modern history, with more than one million Afghans deported.
Numerous reports have surfaced in recent weeks alleging abuse, racism, and even deaths of Afghan migrants in detention camps. Taliban officials have also expressed concern over Iran’s treatment of Afghan migrants. Acting Prime Minister Mullah Hasan Akhund warned that such conduct could fuel hostility between the two nations.
Iranian border guards have repeatedly opened fire on Afghan migrants. Last year, security forces allegedly shot at migrants in the Kalgan area of Saravan.
Possible Visit to Afghanistan
Pezeshkian reaffirmed his support for closer cooperation with Afghanistan and expressed his readiness to visit the country, pending necessary arrangements, to “open a new chapter” in bilateral ties.
While Iran has maintained growing ties with the Taliban particularly in trade and security cooperation it has not formally recognised the Taliban-led government.
Over the past four years, several Iranian officials have visited Afghanistan, and Taliban representatives have travelled to Tehran. In February, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led a political and economic delegation to Kabul to advance Iran’s regional interests.
Following that visit, Iran’s ambassador in Kabul clarified that the engagement did not amount to official recognition, though Tehran would continue to maintain relations with the Taliban administration.
Relations between the two sides have seen periods of tension. Tehran has repeatedly urged the Taliban to release water flow to Iran, a request the Taliban have declined, citing drought conditions. In May 2023, a border clash in Nimruz province resulted in the deaths of two Iranian border guards and one Taliban fighter.