ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special envoy for Afghanistan, said on Friday that the Taliban must sever ties with terrorist groups if Pakistan is to play a meaningful role in resolving the Afghan refugee crisis and help resettle Afghan nationals within its borders.
Speaking at a policy roundtable hosted by the Center for Research and Security Studies in Islamabad, Durrani stressed the need for international and regional cooperation, arguing that Pakistan cannot bear the burden of the crisis alone.
“Pakistan cannot resettle Afghan refugees unilaterally,” he said. “For a sustainable solution, Afghanistan — meaning the Taliban authorities — must end support for terrorist groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and other armed factions. Only if the security situation inside Afghanistan improves can conditions for voluntary repatriation be established.”
The discussion, titled “Policy Options for Balancing Deportations and the Rights of Afghan Nationals Born or Living in Pakistan,” brought together diplomats, policy analysts and former officials to assess the legal, humanitarian and security implications of Pakistan’s recent efforts to repatriate undocumented Afghan migrants.
Durrani highlighted the socio-economic hardships Afghan refugees face in Pakistan, noting that many lack access to banking and essential services. “Afghan businesspeople should be able to open bank accounts and continue their commercial activities,” he said. “This situation affects not only their personal livelihoods but also the broader Pakistani economy.”
He also addressed the growing frustration among Afghan migrants, many of whom had hoped to resettle in Western countries. “Most Afghans living in Pakistan had aspirations to migrate to the United States or Europe,” he said, “but those pathways were largely closed after former President Trump’s shift in immigration policy.”
“These people are now in limbo,” he added, calling for a broader international response. “This is not solely Pakistan’s responsibility. The global community must step in.”
Also speaking at the event, Shoaib Suddle, a former federal tax ombudsman, noted that under international law, deportations are justified only under exceptional circumstances such as threats to national security, espionage, terrorism or unlawful stay.
“Otherwise, forced deportation of Afghan migrants becomes a human rights issue and must be approached with caution and responsibility,” Suddle said.
Former Pakistani ambassador Raza Muhammad, who also attended the session, described the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan as “deeply interlinked.”
“Since the Taliban returned to power, there were hopes for peace and cooperation,” he said. “But those hopes have faded due to resurgent threats from militant groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.”
He warned that terrorism is undermining Pakistan’s internal stability, its civilian population and security forces, and is also jeopardizing major economic initiatives, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
