ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday rejected claims by the Taliban’s top diplomat in Islamabad that Afghan migrants in Pakistan were being mistreated, insisting they had been hosted with “respect and dignity” for decades.
Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, dismissed the remarks made by Sardar Ahmad Shikib, the Taliban’s charge d’affaires in Islamabad, who had alleged that Afghan migrants were being arrested without warning and that Pakistan intended to expel even those with valid residency documents.
Khan called Shikib’s remarks “misplaced,” emphasizing that Pakistan had long supported Afghan refugees despite limited international assistance.
“I would like to remind him that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghans for decades with respect and dignity, offering traditional hospitality and sharing its resources—including education and healthcare services—even with very little global support,” Khan said.
Pakistan launched its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) in October 2023, ordering the deportation of undocumented migrants, a move that has overwhelmingly affected Afghan nationals.
Khan insisted that mechanisms were in place to ensure that no one is mistreated or harassed during deportations.
“We have also extensively engaged with Afghan authorities to ensure a smooth repatriation process,” he said. “While Pakistan has done what it could, we expect the interim Afghan authorities to create conditions that allow returnees to reintegrate into Afghan society.”
Khan added that the “real test” for the Taliban would be to protect the rights of returning Afghans.
Meanwhile, Afghan migrants in Pakistan have raised concerns over alleged mistreatment by police and security forces.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 18,000 Afghan nationals returned to Afghanistan from Islamabad and Rawalpindi in January 2024, with the pace of deportations increasing in the second half of the month.
IOM data also indicated a sharp rise in expulsions from Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Rawalpindi, underscoring Pakistan’s intensified efforts to remove Afghan migrants.
