The Taliban government has expressed deep concerns about the treatment of returning Afghan refugees by Pakistani authorities. According to the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul, Obaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, to discuss the mistreatment of Afghan refugees during deportation from Pakistan.
Muttaqi condemned the inappropriate behavior by some Pakistani institutions, labeling it as provocative and harmful to bilateral ties, and demanded an immediate change in how deportations are handled.
Refugees returning to Afghanistan say that when they lack household items or family members, they are denied United Nations support, which is intended to help returning families. “If you don’t have your family or belongings with you, they don’t believe you are a genuine returnee and deny you the aid,” said one refugee.
Between April 1 and 12, over 30,000 Afghan refugees returned home, with 6,543 returning on April 12 alone. Some returnees also report reduced cash support from the UN, now at around 10,000 Afghanis, half of what it used to be.
Spokesman for the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, acknowledged that police seizures of goods and family members were not widespread but did affect those who were arrested or forcibly deported. He said the government has raised this issue with Pakistan.
Haqqani added that returnees are temporarily settled in camps and then relocated to their native areas. He said plans are in motion for permanent housing and job creation, and land distribution has begun in some provinces.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice has urged landlords not to raise rents and to cooperate by offering properties at fair prices to returning refugees, warning against overcharging or illegal commissions.
Despite Pakistan’s claim that only undocumented Afghans or those with expired ACC (Afghan Citizen Cards) are being deported, many refugees with valid PoR (Proof of Registration) cards have also reported forced returns. Officially, PoR holders have until June 30 to remain in Pakistan.
The Taliban government has condemned Pakistan’s deportation policy as “against all norms” and called for a systematic and humane repatriation strategy.