Taliban leaders in Afghanistan are raising the alarm over reports that Washington plans to remove dozens of Afghan immigrants from the United States by routing them through Pakistan — a step that could ultimately send them back to Afghanistan.
More than 150 Afghans in the United States are expected to be deported via Pakistan to Afghanistan, according to US media reports and an advocacy group. Those on the list reportedly include relatives of Afghans who helped US forces before the 2021 withdrawal.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expresses its serious concern over reports that the United States intends to deport some Afghan refugees to Pakistan who have not yet been able to obtain legal residency documents in that country,” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in a statement.
Advocacy organisations have warned that forcing out former allies and their families could put them in danger, arguing that return could expose some to retaliation or other threats.
Since retaking control of the country, Taliban authorities have declared a general amnesty for Afghans who worked with Western-backed forces and governments. This year, they have again insisted that former opponents can return without fear.
Yet the United Nations has documented reports of extrajudicial killings, detentions and abuses, casting doubt on assurances that all returnees would be safe.
President Donald Trump’s administration last year imposed travel bans on several countries, including Afghanistan, as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
His administration also sought to end deportation protections for Afghans, including some who received special immigrant visas after Taliban authorities seized power in 2021.
AfghanEvac, an organisation that works to support former Afghan allies, said those expected to be removed include family members of Afghans who assisted the US military before Kabul fell.
Because the United States cannot organise deportations directly to Afghanistan, anonymous US officials told The New York Times that Pakistan would oversee their expulsion onward to Afghanistan.
In recent years, Germany and Turkey have sent Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan directly, despite objections from human rights groups that returnees could face serious risks.
Mr Balkhi said Taliban authorities were urging “the United States of America to adopt a responsible and measured approach in this regard and to take any decisions and measures regarding the fate of Afghan citizens with clear mutual understanding, necessary coordination, and consideration of the rights and legitimate demands of the individuals concerned”.
“The Afghan side is ready to interact in this regard in a practical and mutually understanding manner,” he added.
Pakistan earlier this year instructed law enforcement across the country to detain Afghan citizens without visas, part of a years-long repatriation drive that has pushed millions of Afghans back after decades of war.
Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense since Taliban authorities returned to power, and deteriorated further after deadly border clashes last October that nearly shut the frontier.
