KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban-run Ministry of Refugees said on Monday that it convened a joint meeting with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and several international humanitarian organizations in Kabul to discuss challenges facing migrants and internally displaced persons.
According to a statement from the Taliban, the meeting was co-chaired by the ministry and UNAMA.
Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s acting minister for refugees, said decades of conflict had displaced millions of Afghans internally or forced them to flee abroad. Criticizing Pakistan’s ongoing mass expulsions of Afghan refugees, Kabir called the deportations “unacceptable” and warned that such actions could foster resentment between the two countries.
He urged international organizations to prioritize support for refugees and displaced populations within Afghanistan, and called for greater international assistance in rebuilding housing and providing essential services to returnees.
Addressing the meeting, Indrika Ratwatte, the U.N.’s deputy special representative for Afghanistan, said nearly 800,000 Afghans had returned from Pakistan since late 2023.
Ratwatte noted that the United Nations allocated $183 million last year for humanitarian assistance targeting Afghan migrants and displaced persons. She said the U.N. and its affiliated agencies are continuing to develop new programs to meet growing needs.
Representatives from several Taliban-run ministries — including health, economy, agriculture, education, urban development, rural development, labor and social affairs, disaster management, and statistics — also attended the meeting.
The Taliban said the session emphasized the need for closer coordination with international organizations and included discussions on services and proposed initiatives for migrants and displaced communities.
