Islamabad — Pakistan has confirmed that it will proceed with the expulsion of all Afghan migrants from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other parts of the country, according to a statement issued by the Taliban’s embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday.
Under this decision, only Afghan citizens with valid visas will be permitted to remain in these areas.
The Taliban’s embassy expressed concern over the move, stating that the deportations have begun without formal notification, leaving even the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) unaware of the policy.
The statement also alleged that in recent days, Afghan nationals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been arrested, searched, and forced to leave these cities, relocating to other parts of Pakistan. The embassy noted that it had not received any official communication from Pakistani authorities regarding the deportation plan.
In response to the situation, the Taliban’s embassy said it had held several meetings with Pakistani officials and relevant organizations to seek clarification. It urged Islamabad to publicly announce the policy if it is an official directive. If these actions are being carried out on an individual or arbitrary basis, the Taliban called for their immediate halt.
Pakistan began its mass deportation of Afghan migrants months ago, forcing thousands to leave the country.
Islamabad had previously announced a phased deportation plan, which included migrants awaiting resettlement in Western countries.
