Tashkent Pushes For Faster Implementation Of Trans-Afghan Railway

Speaking during a security meeting in Islamabad on Monday, Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry said terrorist incidents in Pakistan’s border regions have intensified, resulting in mounting casualties among security forces.

He stressed that without full political backing from the federal government, security agencies would be unable to respond effectively to the growing threats.

Chaudhry said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbours and brothers, noting Pakistan’s longstanding support for peace in Afghanistan. He added that Pakistan has made great sacrifices and it is now time for Afghanistan to fulfil its responsibilities.

The minister added that more than 90,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives in terrorist attacks over the years. He warned that the ongoing violence could have consequences beyond Pakistan’s borders if left unaddressed.

Pakistani authorities have repeatedly accused the Taliban administration in Kabul of sheltering members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the banned militant group responsible for numerous attacks across the country. The Taliban, however, denies offering sanctuary to the TTP.

Officials announced on Monday that the deportations had restarted, drawing sharp criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which warned the mass returns could worsen instability in Afghanistan.

In addition to PoR card holders, around 800,000 Afghans with Afghan Citizen Cards are also at risk. Pakistani police say these individuals are residing in the country “illegally” and are being detained in the provinces of Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh.

According to a government notice dated 31 July and obtained by the Associated Press, Afghan nationals without valid passports and Pakistani visas must leave the country under Pakistan’s immigration laws. The statement confirmed the Pakistani government’s decision to deport all Afghans with expired PoR documentation.

Two Pakistani government and security officials told the AP that police across the country have begun detaining Afghan nationals and transferring them to border crossings. Officers have reportedly been ordered to conduct door-to-door searches to identify and arrest undocumented migrants.

Shakeel Khan, commissioner for Afghan refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said that Afghan migrants living illegally in Pakistan are being returned to their country with respect. He added that the operation marks a major step in enforcing the federal government’s directive.

Rahmatullah, a 35-year-old Afghan, said his family settled in Peshawar decades ago but is now preparing to return.
He said that he has five children and is worried they’ll miss out on education, adding that he and his children were born in Pakistan, but they have to leave the country.

Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghans for more than four decades, many of whom fled war, political turmoil, and economic hardship. The current wave of expulsions follows a nationwide crackdown launched in 2023 targeting foreign nationals without legal residence.

UNHCR spokesperson Qaiser Khan Afridi expressed deep concern over the renewed deportations. In a statement, he described the forced returns as a violation of international obligations and urged Pakistan to adopt a more humane and measured approach.

The rights group stated that a total of 96 prisoners were executed across Iran during the month, a 74.5 per cent increase compared to July 2024, when 55 executions were recorded. Of those executed last month, five were citizens of Afghanistan.

According to Hengaw, the majority of those executed in July were convicted of drug-related offences. The report did not include the names or personal details of the Afghan nationals.

Iranian authorities have not publicly commented on the report.

Human rights organisations based outside Iran have previously reported a rise in executions of Afghan inmates, particularly following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

In its annual report, Iran Human Rights stated that at least 80 Afghan nationals were executed by Iranian authorities in 2024.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Momeni said Tehran can no longer accommodate additional population growth. “Even if we solve the electricity and gas issues, the problem of water supply will remain unsolvable,” he said. The order was issued during Sunday’s cabinet meeting.

Momeni stated that the government’s immediate objective is to prevent any new population influx into Tehran and to maintain current levels. He added that the administration is planning initiatives in other provinces to promote reverse migration away from the capital.

The minister also reiterated the government’s stance on undocumented migrants, stating that "two million undocumented migrants" must leave the country. He said one million migrants, mostly Afghans, have already returned to Afghanistan, and the remainder must also return.

In recent months, Iran has carried out mass deportations of Afghan nationals. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 500,000 Afghans were deported over a 16-day period, an operation described as one of the largest forced displacements in the past decade.

Numerous reports have emerged of abuse during the deportations, including cases resulting in death. Afghan migrants have reported that some employers withheld their wages, and landlords refused to return rental deposits.

According to The Express Tribune, the initiative aims to strengthen regional cooperation through enhanced trade and connectivity among like-minded nations. The proposed framework is part of joint efforts by Islamabad and Beijing to establish a new mechanism that could serve as a successor to SAARC.

The report suggests that SAARC members such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Afghanistan are likely to be invited to join the new bloc. While India’s inclusion has been discussed, ongoing political tensions make New Delhi’s participation unlikely.

SAARC has been effectively suspended since 2016, when its annual summit was cancelled following India’s refusal to attend a scheduled meeting in Islamabad, a decision that was supported by Bangladesh.

More recently, India has reportedly ceased issuing special SAARC visas for Pakistani traders, a move seen by observers as another setback for the already dormant organisation.