Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the People’s Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan and a senior member of the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, says that a delegation from the council will soon travel to Islamabad to discuss the growing challenges faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Speaking on Amu TV’s current affairs program “Sarkhat,” Mohaqiq emphasized that the trip should not be interpreted through a political lens. “This is not a political mission,” he said. “The main goal is to advocate for the rights and well-being of Afghan refugees.”
The announcement follows a similar visit by a five-member delegation from the council to Iran in April, also led by Mr. Mohaqiq, to assess conditions for Afghan migrants there.
According to Mohaqiq, millions of Afghan nationals remain at risk of deportation in both countries. “Those who dismiss this effort as political are either living comfortably abroad or inside Afghanistan, aligned with the Taliban,” he said. “They are disconnected from the pain of over six million refugees in Iran and another three to four million in Pakistan.”
This marks the second official visit by the resistance council to a neighboring country in recent months. During the trip to Iran, the delegation — which included Almas Zahid, chair of the council’s peace committee; Khwaja Mahbub Siddiqi of the Jamiat-e-Islami party; Abdullah Qarluq, deputy leader of the National Islamic Movement; and Habiburrahman Sayyaf of the Islamic Dawat Party — engaged in informal talks on the status of Afghan refugees.
The National Resistance Council, composed of political figures opposing the Taliban, has positioned itself as a voice for Afghan exiles and the broader diaspora. However, the council’s diplomatic forays have not been without controversy.
Some political analysts have questioned the council’s motives, suggesting the refugee issue may be a pretext for advancing its political agenda.
“These visits are largely driven by political and military objectives,” said political commentator Najib Rahman Shomal. “The resistance council is using refugee concerns to rally international support, but there has been no official confirmation or media coverage of concrete discussions with host governments.”
Meanwhile, many refugees in Pakistan say their situation is becoming increasingly precarious. “Conditions for Afghan migrants in Pakistan are deteriorating,” said Laila, an Afghan refugee. “We are on the verge of being expelled, with nowhere to go and no means to return.”
Following the Iran trip, the resistance council expressed hope that Iranian authorities would ease the pace of deportations. But reports of expulsions remain high, with no visible reduction in the numbers.
